News

Ones to Watch - Cranbourne

25th Aug 2015

Breednet - by Tara Madgwick - Monday, 24 August 2015

Champion racehorse and sire Lonhro wowed the crowds at the annual Darley stallion parade on Saturday and also provided us with two impressive debut winners at Cranbourne on Sunday with spring goals on their agenda.

The Pat Carey trained filly Hela Flyer (Lonhro x Hela Dubai) (pictured as a yearling) travelled in fourth for much of the race for Patrick Moloney and when asked to go forward down the running quickly reeled in her rivals and dashed away to win the 1200 metre maiden by three and a quarter lengths.

Hela Flyer was a modest $50,000 Inglis Easter purchase for her trainer from the Emirates Park draft and is the second winner for superbly bred Danehill (USA) mare Hela Dubai, a full sister to Group I winner and sire Al Maher.

Of course, it's also the family of countless Group I winners such as Redoute's Choice, Manhattan Rain, Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, Gathering and Platinum Scissors.

Hela Dubai has a yearling colt by Emirates Park based shuttler Dream Ahead (USA) and was covered last year by Harbour Watch (IRE), who also shuttled to Emirates Park.

Lonhro made it a double at Cranbourne with a determined win for hot favourite first starter Data Point (Lonhro x Mermaid Island).

Prepared by Mick Kent and ridden by Mark Zahra, Data Point showed pace to cross and take a position just behind the leaders and then accelerated down the running to hit the front.

Challenged late by Sebring gelding Nurburgring, Data Point pulled out plenty to win the 1400 metre maiden by a short neck.

A $245,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Dermot Farrington Bloodstock from the draft of Tyreel Stud, Data Point is a half-brother to stakes-winner Ondina and is the third winner for stakes-placed Mermaid Island (IRE), a half-sister to Group I Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Nightime.

Mermaid Island was sold as part of the Tyreel Stud Dispersal in 2014 for $80,000.

She has a yearling filly by Foxwedge and is due to foal to Pierro.

Both Hela Flyer and Data Point are entered in all the spring majors, so watch for them to pop up in better races as they chase fame and fortune this spring.