Lonhro firing from Launay to Launceston

Arrowfield champion Redoute’s Choice is playing a lone hand against Darley sires Lonhro and Commands at the top of the 2010-11 stakes winners’ premiership.

Redoute’s Choice has sired 10 individual Australian stakes winners so far this season to lead Lonhro and Commands (9).  But Lonhro (11) is in front of Redoute’s Choice (10) and Commands(9) for total stakes wins.

Parables (3f Lonhro – Fairytales by Night Shift) recorded her second black-type win this season in the G2 Surround Stakes at Warwick Farm on Saturday. 

Positioned with plenty of cover by Rod Quinn, she angled wide into the straight and was too strong for Red Tracer (Dane Shadow) in the final furlong.

The Darley filly won her maiden by four lengths at Warwick Farm in March 2010 and opened the current season with a G3 victory in the Silver Shadow Stakes at Warwick Farm.  She is yet to be unplaced in nine starts.

Parables is the last foal of Listed AJC Toy Show Hcp winner Fairytales.  She represents the Lonhro – Night Shift cross that has also generated the Darley stakes winners Beaded and Trim.

Darley trainer Peter Snowden wasn’t on track to see Parables.  He was in Melbourne to saddle up Bullbars and, although they finished second in the G1 Australian Guineas, the trip south wasn’t in vain.

Launay won the last at Flemington and he’s the latest Lonhro on a upward curve.  Coasting to a three length victory in the Listed TAB 50th Birthday Stakes over 1400m, he became the ninth individual stakes winner for his sire this season.

Launay (4g Lonhro – Eve In Seychelles by Palace Music) gave a glimpse of things to come last year with seconds to Rothesay (G2 Queensland Guineas) and Faster Son (MRC Mitty’s Cup) before winning twice in support races during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

“He is an exciting horse and he’s definitely better in Melbourne,’ Snowden claimed.  “I’ll will keep stepping him up in distance for a race like the Easter Cup.”

Bred by Woodlands, Launay is from Eve In Seychelles, a half-sister to Group winning stayers Storm (Dahar), Runaway Groom (Nassipour) and Regal Sea (Dahar).

Tasmanian based breeder Terry Clarke bought Eve In Seychelles for $45,000 at the 2007 Inglis Easter broodmare sale.  The mare was carrying Lonhro filly Beau Vallon and she was a six length winner on debut in January 2010.  There’s black-type on her radar after a last start second in the Launceston 3YO Classic on February 17.

Clarke owns Pine Lane Thoroughbreds near Hobart and his CV includes terms as CEO of TOTE Tasmania and Treasurer of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.  He sent Eve In Seychelles back to Darley Kelvinside last year and she’s back in foal to Lonhro.