Darley-sired runners had a decent share of the limelight at both Canterbury and Ballarat on Wednesday.
Three year-old colt O’Lonhro, who is, of course, a son of Lonhro, won comfortably on debut over 1250m for John Hawkes at the NSW track. Beautifully bred, he is out of seven-time Stakes winner Mamzelle Pedrille. O’Lonhro’s Darley-consigned full-brother changed hands at the recent Magic Millions sale for $130,000, sold to King Thoroughbreds.
Hawkes, who was in attendance at Canterbury, said: ‘He’s a lovely horse and he’s always shown ability. He’s still learning so he’ll just work through the grades.’
On the same card, the Bart Cummings-trained juvenile Sunday Rose won on her debut in the opening race, dropping a big hint that the Golden Slipper may well be on her agenda. The Exceed And Excel filly was bred by the trainer and is out of the Marscay mare Moon Cha Cha.
Sunday Rose was one of two debutante winners for her sire, the other being Miraculous Miss, who took Ballarat’s 1000m maiden by a length. The filly, out of Galway Lass, was a $350,000 yearling purchase and is a full-sister to Stakes winner Outdo. Exceed And Excel has now sired 12 juvenile winners to date this season.
Also posting an impressive performance at Ballarat was First Command, a three-year-old gelding by Commands from the stable of Lee Freedman. Jumping smartly, he led from the early stages and forged clear of his toiling rivals for an easy win first up after a lengthy spell. First Command is out of River Serenade (Hurricane Sky), who is a full-sister to Group One winner River Dove.
The Inglis Classic Sale, which commences on Sunday, features 11 yearlings by Commands and four by Lonhro. Shamardal, who celebrated his second first-crop winner on Saturday, has ten yearlings scheduled to sell.
