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Lion’s roars home in Randwick Guineas for John O'Shea and Champion Thoroughbreds
Fresh off the back of siring his first stakes winner, Mapperley Stud-based sire Contributer (High Chaparral) was provided with his first Group 1 winner and second stakes winner as his son Lion’s Roar (3 g ex Minnaleo by Black Minnaloushe) produced a spine-tingling performance to win the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) in a record-breaking time on Saturday.
Trained by John O’Shea and ridden by Brendon Avdulla, Lion’s Roar settled last and clearly relished a genuine early tempo set by Marsannay (Snitzel) and Peltzer (So You Think) to close strongly late and draw clear for a length and a quarter victory over Mo'unga (Savabeel), who overcame a torrid run to finish an eye-catching second. Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium) was a further neck away in third.
Lion's Roar entered the Randwick Guineas fifth-placed finish in the Hobartville Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), which was won by Aegon (Sacred Falls) - who surrendered his unbeaten record in the Group 1 on Saturday, with the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding only managing to finish a disappointing sixth, having been sent off favourite.
A runner-up in the Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) last October, his ultimate goal this campaign is the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) on March 20.
The win handed O’Shea his 29th career Group 1 and first since 2017 and he expressed his delight at Saturday’s result.
"I better not explain the way I feel,” said O’Shea, who also trained Contributer during his time as Godolphin’s head trainer.
“It's fantastic. Just an unbelievable effort. In the run he was just bolting. That big action down the outside. Brenton was cool as a cucumber. Just very very special to win it with Champion Thoroughbreds.
"I knew he'd made a lot of improvement from the other day. We came here a bit concerned about where we were going to be in the run. Brenton to his credit said just back and get some cover. I just didn't want to ruin what we'd been doing in terms of his preparation. It's just very exciting.
"He's been a work in progress with this race and the Rosehill Guineas in mind. I think we are on track. That has always been our target race. So to pick up this race along the way is very good. It's a great ownership group."
Bred by P Gillespie, Lion’s Roar was purchased by owners Champion Thoroughbreds for NZ$65,000 at Book 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 2 Sale in 2019 and he is one of two winners and first stakes winner out of four-time winner Minnaleo (Black Minnaloushe).
Minnaleo herself is a daughter of Group 1 winner The Mighty Lions (Grosvenor), making her a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Vaquera (High Chaparral).
Contributer sired his first stakes winner on Wednesday when Llanacord landed the Lowlands Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m) at Hastings in New Zealand on Wednesday and he stood at stud for a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST) in 2020.