At just her third start, three-year-old Lonhro filly Eight Till Late broke her maiden status in most impressive fashion, storming home to claim the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes over 1600m at Ascot on November 12.
Defeating a smart field of more experienced fillies, Eight Till Late becomes the 32nd Stakes winner for her sire. Initially listed as an emergency in the race, Eight Till Late gained a last minute entry and was perfectly guided by jockey Paul Harvey, finishing over the top of the field to win by a long-head in a time of 1:36.98 at the healthy odds of 50/1.
Bred by Hamilton Stud in New Zealand and Woodlawn Park, NSW, Eight Till Late is the first Stakes-winner for her dam Future Choice. Future Choice also has a yearling colt by fellow Darley stallion New Approach, who incidentally has four yearlings catalogued for the upcoming 2012 Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast, while Champion sire Lonhro has an impressive collection of 30 yearlings catalogued.
Lonhro, himself was a G1 winner at three, went on to become one of the greatest older horses Australia has ever seen, recording 11 G1 victories at ages three, four and five.
Lonhro became Australia’s Champion sire for the first time this year after having only four crops to race. To achieve this remarkable feat, he defeated international sires Galileo and Redoute’s Choice, as well as fellow Darley stallions Street Cry and Elusive Quality. He has already sired G1 winners Beaded, Benfica and Denman, who now also stands alongside Lonhro at Darley in Australia.
Standing the current breeding season at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $77,000 (inc GST), it was recently announced that Lonhro will shuttle to Darley’s stallion farm at Jonabell in Lexington, Kentucky for the 2012 northern hemisphere breeding season.
