Champion
racehorse and sire Lonhro wowed the crowds at the annual Darley stallion parade
on Saturday and also provided us with two impressive debut winners at
Cranbourne on Sunday with spring goals on their agenda.
The Pat Carey trained filly Hela Flyer travelled in fourth for much of the race
for Patrick Moloney and when asked to go forward down the running quickly
reeled in her rivals and dashed away to
win the 1200 metre maiden by three and a quarter lengths.
Hela Flyer was a modest $50,000 Inglis Easter purchase for her trainer from the
Emirates Park draft and is the second winner for superbly bred Danehill (USA)
mare Hela Dubai, a full sister to Group I winner and sire Al Maher.
Of course, it's also the family of countless Group I winners such as Redoute's
Choice, Manhattan Rain, Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, Gathering and Platinum
Scissors.
Hela Dubai has a yearling colt by Emirates Park based shuttler Dream Ahead
(USA) and was covered last year by Harbour
Watch (IRE), who also shuttled to Emirates Park.
Lonhro made it a double at Cranbourne with a determined win for hot favourite
first starter Data Point.
Prepared by Mick Kent and ridden by Mark Zahra, Data Point showed pace to cross
and take a position just behind the leaders and then accelerated down the
running to hit the front.
Challenged late by Sebring gelding Nurburgring, Data Point pulled out plenty to
win the 1400 metre maiden by a short neck.
A $245,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Dermot Farrington Bloodstock from the
draft of Tyreel Stud, Data Point is a half-brother to stakes-winner Ondina and
is the third winner for stakes-placed Mermaid Island (IRE), a half-sister to Group
I Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Nightime.
Mermaid Island was sold as part of the Tyreel Stud Dispersal in 2014 for
$80,000.
She has a yearling filly by Foxwedge and is due to foal to Pierro.
Both Hela Flyer and Data Point are entered in all the spring majors, so watch
for them to pop up in better races as they chase fame and fortune this spring.