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.
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.
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.
