Darley champion Lonhro is turning the screws on his rivals at the top of the Australian sires’ premiership.

Lonhro ($8.66 million) stretched his winning margin over Redoute’s Choice ($7.27 million) on Saturday after Scarf won the LR Winter Stakes at Rosehill and The Ruffian claimed the $120,000 Northern Territory Derby at Fannie Bay

Scarf’s victory also sent Lonhro to a clear lead for stakes winners this season.  He had joined Redoute’s Choice and Encosta de Lago on 13 individual black-type winners when Jerezana was successful in the Ramornie Hcp at Grafton on Wednesday.

Scarf made it 14 black-type winners of 20 stakes races in the last stakes race of the season in Sydney.  “It’s a good sign to see a three-year-old win at this time of year against these older horses,” trainer Peter Snowden said.  “He’s not really a carnival horse yet because he’s still a little bit new.

“We will head to the Winter Championship final in two weeks.  He has always been a bit immature but I think he can win some good races.”

Scarf (3g Lonhro – Muffle by Quest For Fame) is a three-quarter brother to the Octagonal winners Stifle and Muscatels.  Muffle is a half-sister to the dams of Sydney stakes winners Jeremiad (Octagonal) and Dysphonia (Lonhro).