Melbourne, Vic (Jan 27th, 2010) - Lonhro’s star colt Denman returned to racing with a fantastic victory in the Listed Zeditave stakes at Caulfield on Australia Day.
Trained at Flemington by Darley’s principal trainer, Peter Snowden, Denman was having his first run back since his defeat in the Group I Caulfield Guineas last October and ridden by stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy the near black colt sprinted quickly once clear of his rivals to win the black type event by a widening length-and-a-half.

   Denman, began very well for McEvoy and had the lead for the first furlong, McEvoy then eased him as Craig Williams took up the running on Carrara.   Rounding the home turn, Williams had Carrara high-rolling and got a break on Denman, as McEvoy elected to stay near the rail a decision that nearly bought about defeat. 
   With some anxious moments and well into the straight that McEvoy found a gap for the three-year-old and the colt didn’t shirk his task to sprint home and deny Carrara (Elvstroem – Crystal Sprite by Hurricane Sky).
   “At the corner I thought ‘we’re in trouble here’, but Kerrin did the right thing, he waited and gave himself some options,” Snowden said.
    “Kerrin’s got good confidence in the horse, all he needed was half a gap and he picked the other horse (Carrara) up pretty quickly.
    “He mightn’t have looked that good to some, but he ran quick time and he’s had a pretty solid run,” 
   “He’s right on track,” Snowden added.
Denman will have his next run in the Group I C F Orr Stakes, also at Caulfield, February 6th en route to the classic show down of the Victorian Autumn the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 6, where he will clash with the W S Cox Plate winner, So You Think.
   “I was around when John (Hawkes) trained both his father (Lonhro) and Octagonal and the times those horse ran in work, are the sort of times Denman does,” Snowden said.
   Denman showed his temperament pre-race as he quietly followed his strapper James Smith around the parade ring without a worry in the world when surrounded by fillies.  A fine quality he will pass on to his stock when his racing days are over. 

    Bred by Woodlands Stud, Denman is out of Peach, a daughter of the great sprinter Vain, and she is the dam of VRC Group I Sires Produce Stakes winner Preserve (Canny Lad) and the Listed Dark Jewel Classic winner, Rio Osa (Canny Lad).
   Peach is currently in foal to Lonhro, off an early covering, she has an unraced 2yo colt by Commands named Fragar and a yearling full brother to Denman.
  Denman has the second winner on the Caulfield card for Lonhro with Nosugar (ex Latte by Anabaa) taking out the opening race on the eight race card with an on speed effort.
    Trained at Flemington by the partnership of Simon Zahra and Mathew Ellerton, Nosugar settled on the outside of the race favourite and top weight Solchow (Statue of Liberty – Triple Salchow by Citidancer) in the 1100m sprint for mares.   After applying the pressure to Solchow for most of the trip Nosugar gained the advantage in the closing stages to record her third career victory at her 17th start.
  Lonhro (Octagonal - Shadea by Straight Strike) an 11-time Group I winner had his fee cut from $55,000 to $33,000 last spring and covered more than 200 mares.
     With the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale first session set down for today, Lonhro,  has two yearlings catalogued at the venue with another three yearlings by him in New Zealand at Karaka  (February 1st-2nd).   Back in Australia in Victoria at the William Inglis Premier sale Lonhro will be represented by 13 yearlings at the Oaklands Junction complex (March 1st - 4th).  Another 13 are catalogued for sale at William Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale (April 6th - 8th) at the Newmarket complex in New South Wales.

Tags: Darley
Permalink| Jan 27, 2010

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