In his racing days, Lonhro was no stranger to the winner’s enclosure, recording 11 Group One wins during an outstanding career. Now at stud and with his first crop of runners aged three, he has sired a winner a day for each of the last four days to take his tally to 36 for the season and put him in second place in the second-crop sires’ table behind Exceed And Excel (on 46). The closest to the leading duo is Reset, who has had 26 winners to date this season.
Three-year-old colt Delano set the ball rolling on Sunday when recording his second win in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed in a 1600m handicap at Cranbourne. The maroon-and-white silks were back in the winner’s enclosure on Monday courtesy of Renaissance, who triumphed on her third start over 1100m at Kilmore. Bred by Woodlands Stud, Renaissance and Delano are also both from daughters of Canny Lad, Renaissance being out of Listed winner Seances and Delano a son of G2 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Seika and half-brother to Group Three winner Clothilde.
Rain In Africa was successful in Benalla’s 1115m maiden plate on Tuesday. Out of the Rainbow Quest mare Rainshine, the three-year-old was bred by Mr G D Price. His victory was followed up by the debutant Ragnvald, again in Sheikh Mohammed’s ownership and bred by Woodlands Stud, who enjoyed a promising first racecourse outing when winning the 1200m maiden at Canterbury with his paternal half-brother Frighten taking third. Ragnvald shares his broodmare sire with the great Danehill, being out of dual Group winner Spring Thaw, a daughter of His Majesty, who has already produced three Stakes winners: Boreale, Donar and the North.
