A week after Godolphin's Brazen Beau colt Tassort raced his way to Golden Slipper favouritism with a facile win in the Golden Gift at Rosehill, Godolphin took the wraps off another hugely impressive debutant in the Lonhro filly Athiri.
Ridden by Glyn Schofield, the James Cummings-trained filly raced midfield as Nuclear Summit and Stronger set a solid pace. Desperate for a run, Schofield found a seam between runners halfway down the straight and once she saw daylight Athiri (image Steve Hart) came clear to win eased down by two lengths from the Brazen Beau colt Accession with Not A Single Doubt colt Stronger three-quarter of a length back in third.
"A ripping debut from a very uncomplicated filly," Cummings said.
"She has got a wonderful attitude. She was not as robust as some of the colts we saw in the yard here.
"She just sweated on a run for half a furlong, it didn't faze her as her attitude is her greatest strength and we may have unveiled another attribute in her great turn of foot."
A half-sister to Listed Mona Lisa Stakes winner Savatiano, who placed in the Group II Blazer Stakes and Group III HKJC Stakes over the Melbourne Spring Carnival, 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.
Connections hit the jackpot again when they consigned Star Shiraz to the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she 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's 2017 Exosphere colt died after birth but on October 3 she foaled a Hallowed Crown colt.
Lonhro has nine lots on offer at the Gold Coast I January, a single entry at the Inglis Classic and three at the Inglis Premier.
