When Lion's Roar broke his maiden at his career debut over 1600m at Kembla Grange in September, he became the first winner for his sire Contributer – four runs later, he becomes his first Group 1 winner.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla for trainer John O'Shea, Lion's Roar showed a brilliant turn of foot from near the tail of the field to defeat the luckless Mo'unga (Savabeel) by a length in Saturday's $1million Group 1 Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (1600m).
The lone filly in the race Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium) was a further neck back in third.
Second to Montefilia in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last November, Lion's Roar advances his record to four wins and two seconds from seven starts with earnings of $832870.
“I better not explain the way I feel,” O’Shea said.
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“In the run he was just bolting and came with his big action down the outside. Brenton was cool as a cucumber. Just very, very special to win it with Champion (Thoroughbreds).
“I knew he had made a lot of improvement from the other day. We came here a bit concerned where we were going to be in the run. Brenton, to his credit, said to go back and get some cover.
"He has been a work in progress with this race and the Rosehill Guineas in mind. I think we are on track.
“That has always been our target race. So to pick up this race along the way is very good. It’s a great ownership group.
“I’ve got my mum and dad in it. I couldn’t sell a share in it. He was going well as a 2yo so I advised them to take a small share.”
A $65,000 purchase by Champion Thoroughbreds out of the Wellfield Lodge draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Lion’s Roar is the second winner from three to race out of the talented Black Minnaloushe mare Minnaleo.
A 4-time winner, Minnaleo is a half-sister to Vaquera, a daughter of High Chaparral (IRE) who won the Group III NJC JC Tibbie Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Minnaleo is a daughter of the Group 1 Avondale Gold Cup winner The Mighty Lions (Grosvenor) who hails from the family of Vinery Stud’s dual Group 1 winner Press Statement and the Group 1 BRC TJ Smith Classic winner Pressday.
Contributer stand at Mapperley Stud in partnership with Darley.
A two time Listed winner in England, Contributer was dominant in the autumn of 2015 when trained by John O'Shea winning the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and Group II Apollo Stakes on his way to being honoured as the champion middle distance galloper of 2014-15.
