NEWS
Denman wins first Group 1 of Australian racing season
Posted: Saturday, August 29, 2009 4:45 PM
by Mike Curry
Denman extended his winning streak to five with a victory in the first Group 1 race of the season in Australia.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s three-year-old Lonhro colt took charge inside the final 300 meters and powered clear to win the $1,021,400 Golden Rose Stakes (Aus-G1) on Saturday at Rosehill.
The victory also was the first Group 1 success for 2003-‘04 Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro, by Octagonal, whom Sheikh Mohammed acquired in March 2008 with the purchase of Bob Ingham’s Woodlands Stud operation.
Denman completed 1,400 meters (6.96 furlongs) under Kerrin McEvoy in 1:22.83 on turf rated as good.
Denman entered off a clear win in the CHPRSL Run to the Rose (Aus-G3) on August 15 at Rosehill for trainer Peter Snowden. A half brother to Group 1 winner Preserve, he is out of the Vain mare Peach.
“I was very confident before the race,'' Snowden told the Australian Associated Press. "He is a very talented horse and he went three seconds faster than any other horse we clocked on Tuesday morning.
''He could be anything this horse, a mile will be no problem and then who knows. It's just great to have this one on the board, for the whole team and for Lonhro.''
Runner-up Trusting finished a half-length in front of third-place finisher Stryker.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
