Second Stakes win for Lonhro three-year-old

Having never finished further back than fourth in his eight starts to date, three-year-old Lonhro gelding Academus gave a warning to his rivals that he will be a force over the Queensland Winter carnival by defeating a class field of his own age on 4 May, winning the G3 Gold Coast Guineas over 1200m in fine style.

Resuming after a campaign that culminated in the victory of the G2 W.A. Guineas in November, the gelding was G1 placed during last year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival and there is no reason to think that he could not end the carnival this year with that elusive G1 victory.

Settling not too far from the leaders in the large field, jockey Tim Clark allowed Academus to come from behind the leaders as they rounded the home turn and from that point on he was always going to gather them in, going on to defeat Al Aneed and Dances On Stars.

The fourth Stakes winner bred by Darley during the day, Academus is out of the Dehere mare Youthful Presence, a half-sister to the G3 winner Walking Or Dancing and the Listed winner Irongail. The dam of four winners including the G1 South Australian Derby winner Kidnapped and the Listed winner Deledio, Youth Presence has a two-year-old Street Cry colt named Young, a Reset yearling colt, as well as Bernardini weanling filly.

As the sire of 38 Stakes winnings highlighted by G1 winners Pierro, Mental, Beaded and Darley Australia stallions Benfica and Denman, Lonhro is standing the current season at $30,000 live foal, stands and nurses.