Expect the Unexpected

Tara Madgwick - Thursday June 27
Sheikh Mohammed's Australian breeding operation under the Godolphin Australia banner enjoyed incredible success this season producing five individual Group I winners, but the vagaries of breeding were highlighted by a winner at Townsville on Thursday that is a full brother to one of those Group I winners.

Blue Diamond winner Lyre is a full sister to Malos - image Grant CourtneyThree year-old Lonhro gelding Malos was sacked from the Godolphin team following four unplaced runs for James Cummings, but has found a new lease of life racing at Townsville under the care of John Barr.

Three starts in North Queensland have delivered two wins and a second, his second win coming today in a 1200 metre three year-old handicap, so his new owners are no doubt delighted with Malos..

Malos is the first foal of placed Street Cry (IRE) mare Erato, a sibling to Group I winner Impending (by Lonhro), Group III winner Forget and stakes-winner Epidemic, not to mention Group II placed Memorial, who is her full sister.

Malos as a young horse was obviously not impressing anyone at Godolphin as Erato was sold at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $120,000 to Australian Bloodstock when in foal to Helmet.

Erato sets the sale ring alightFast forward to the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale again and Erato was back in the ring some two years later, but this time it was a bit different as her second foal is Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre, a full sister to Malos being by Lonhro.

Offered in foal to Russian Revolution, Erato made $1,750,000 when bought by Yu Long Investments proving an outstanding short term investment for Australian Bloodstock.

I guess the moral to the story is that full siblings can be very different and just because a mating you really like does not produce a superstar the first time around, does not mean it can't hit the mark in subsequent tries.



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