Venerable galloper Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) has added the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) to his trophy cabinet for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Ridden by Jason Collett, the son of Contributer sat off the leader Camaguey throughout before getting the better of his rivals in the home straight despite lumping 59kg topweight.
The seven-year-old gelding had just over half a length to spare over Luncies (Iffraaj), with the Gr.1 VRC Derby winner Manzoice (Almanzor) back in third.
A Group One winner at three, Lion’s Roar has been a great money-spinner for connections with A$2,306,445 in prize money care of his six wins and ten placings and care of his Wyong Cup win gains a start in the A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 5.
“He has been a tremendous horse for Champion Thoroughbreds and our stable,” O’Shea said.
“He gets into the Big Dance, so we look forward to getting him there on Melbourne Cup Day.
“Jason is riding in sensational form. He is riding confidently, and we are lucky to be associated with him.”
O’Shea, in conjunction with Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds, purchased the Peter Gillespie-bred son of Contributer from the Book 2 draft of Wellfield Lodge for $65,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sale.
O’Shea knew a thing or two about Contributer, having trained the son of High Chaparral to Group One victories in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Ranvet Stakes (2000m), and described Lion’s Roar as very much in the mould of his father.
Lion’s Roar is out of the four-time winning Black Minnaloushe mare, Minnaleo, a half-sister to Group One performer Vaquera (NZ) (High Chaparral), with both out of the Group One winner The Mighty Lions (NZ) (Grosvenor).
