Four
juvenile heats at Canterbury on Friday held some real interest with a pair of
colts by champion sire Lonhro the standouts for Gopdolphin.
Clocking 54 seconds dead for the 900 metres, which was the quickest of the four
juvenile heats, the James Cummings trained Plague Stone showed an impressive
turn of foot.
He jumped well for Brenton Avdulla and stalked the leader Nuke (Smart Missile) who
raced greenly on straightening to carry Plague Stone out to the middle of the
track.
When asked to quicken at the furlong, Plague Stone dropped his rival cold and
sped clear to win by five lengths.
Plague Stone is the third foal of stakes-placed Elusive Quality (USA) mare
Giggleswick, who was on-sold by Darley at the MM National Broodmare Sale in
2016 for $50,000.
She is from a sister to Group I winner and sire In The Wings from an impressive
European Black Type family more geared to stamina…. am getting de ja' vu here!
Golden Slipper winner Pierro, also by Lonhro, is bred along similar lines, the
pedigree says they might want time, but the horse says otherwise.
I'm not saying Plague Stone will be as good as Pierro, but I do want to watch
him closely!
Winning the next heat in 54.40 seconds was Lonhro colt Roheryn, who is bred to
go fast and early being from former high class juvenile Mannington, a daughter
of Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay.
He settled just off the pace in fourth position for Brenton Avdulla and charged
home along the fence to dash away and win by four lengths.
Roheryn is the last foal of Mannington, who died earlier this year and has left
six winners headed by Victoria Derby winner Benicio and Group II winner
Romneya.
Other two year-old trial winners were Gongs (Dawn Approach (IRE) and Secret
Lady (Choisir) , click here to see them all.