Lomar Park stallion Arena sired his first northern hemisphere winner when Centre Arena scored over 1600m on turf in Philadelphia on Friday evening.

Centre Arena (6g Arena – Soft Shoe by Mister C.) settled among the tailenders in the nine-horse field before jockey Kendrick Carmouche sent him on a searching run to tackle the leaders on the home turn.  He drew clear to score by over a length.

Centre Arena was sent to the USA earlier this year after bleeding for a second time at Rosehill last December.  He is now raced by owner-trainer Diane Jeannont after winning races at Rosehill (2), Newcastle and Gosford.

Centre Arena’s older sister Easy Step won four races in Sydney.  They are from Randwick winner Soft Shoe who was dropped from ASB records in 2008.  Second-dam Lady Lido (Le Cordonnier) was a Listed winner of the AJC Gimcrack Stakes.

Arena (Danehill) was a Woodlands homebred and scored a career-high victory in the 1998 G1 Victoria Derby.  He stands at Fred Peisah’s Lomar Park and has sired 155 winners at a 55% strike-rate.  They include the G1 winning fillies Regal Cheer (STC Coolmore Classic) and Rena’s Lady (AJC Australian Oaks).

Arena will stand for an $8,800 (inc gst) service fee at Lomar Park in 2010.