Athiri Breaks Her Stakes Hoodoo

Mark Smith - Saturday December 12

After winning on debut ar Rosehill as a two-year then placing in the Blue Diamond Prelude, Magic Night Stakes, Kindergarten Stakes and fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond, it seemed inconceivable that Athiri would be lining up for her 17th start hoping to break her stakes duck.

Stakes breakthrough for Athiri (Steve Hart)

Stakes breakthrough for Athiri (Steve Hart)

The stars aligned for the 4yo daughter of Lonhro in Saturday’s Listed Quincy Seltzer Razor Sharp Stakes at Randwick.

With Rachel King in the saddle, the James Cummings-trained mare rode the early speed set by Spaceboy before tacking control of the race at the 200 metres. She defeated Southern Lad (Ocean Park) by one and a half lengths with Tactical Advantage (Bel Esprit) a further one and quarter lengths back in third.

After scoring to back wins at Randwick earlier this campaign, Athiri was coming off a third-place finish in the Group III The Nivison over 12200m at Randwick.

"Lony has produced another stakes winner. He was 22 the other day, so it is good to see him still producing horses of this calibre," stable representative Darren Beadman said.

“It’s good she is a stakes-winner. She is very adaptable. She has been up a long time but you certainly need a hard fit horse today.”

A half-sister to the triple Group II winner and $2 million earner Savatiano (Street Cry), Athiri advancer her record to four wins, one second and five thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $507,300.

Athiri is the third foal of the winning Redoute's Choice mare Retsina who is a daughter of the crack racemare Star Shiraz (Sequalo),

A $15,000 yearling purchase by trainer Rex Lipp at a mixed sale at Toowoomba back in 2003, Star Shiraz won six and placed in seven of her 27 starts with earnings of $859,400.

Lonhro (Mark Smith)

Lonhro (Mark Smith)

Her highlight came when winning the Group 1 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Group 1 QTC TJ Smith Classic.

Consigned Star to the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Star Shiraz was purchased by Darley for $1,125,000.

She was back in the same arena ten years later when sold to Aquis Farm for $200,000.

Retsina has a 2yo Hallowed Crown colt named Vilana and a yearling brother to Athiri.

The daughter of Redoute’s Choice foaled a Street Boss (USA) colt on November 16.

Athiri becomes the 90th stakes-winner for Lonhro who has 14 lots on offer at the Gold Coast and seven at the Inglis Classic.

Race Result - Razor Sharp LR 1200m

Randwick Track: Good(3) Time: 1:07.64
1
Athiri
- 4m Lonhro (AUS) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 53
2
1.5
Southern Lad
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Distinctive Lass (AUS) (Orientate (USA))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: Regan Bayliss 53.5
3
2.8
Tactical Advantage
- 7g Bel Esprit (AUS) x Above Perfection (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
4
3.1
Passage Of Time
- 7g Northern Meteor (AUS) x Crystal Gauntlet (AUS) (Marscay (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
5
3.3
Inanup
- 7g Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Our Slew (AUS) (Gilded Time (USA))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: J Ford 53
6
3.5
Brave Song
- 6g Your Song (AUS) x Brave Choice (AUS) (Dr Fong (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J Parr 56
7
3.8
Snitz
- 6g Snitzel (AUS) x Tickle My (AUS) (Perugino (USA))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Tim Clark 57.5
8
4.3
Spaceboy
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Miatoko (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 53
9
5.1
Intuition
- 6g Street Cry (IRE) x Radar (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Kurt Goldman Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
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