Champion Thoroughbreds | Champion Thoroughbreds News 57352 Couragous Lion Roars In Group 3 Feature

Lion's Roar produced a courageous effort in the Group 3 Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day, delivering his owners the perfect end to 2023. It had been 1025 days between wins for the Roar, affectionately known to his owners as Leo. His last victory was as a 3YO when he caused an upset in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, defeating short priced favourite Mo'unga. 

Lining up for his 30th career start in the feature event on Tuesday, Lion's Roar jumped as the $2.80 favourite following his brilliant 3rd placing in The Ingham. Leading Sydney jockey Tyler Schiller, who was aboard Lion's Roar for the very first time had to make a decision very early in the race when he began so well from barrier 3.

"I didn't really get him in an ideal spot, I didn't want to be outside the lead but I wanted to be more positive and he ended up doing a bit of work.

"They went at a good speed and he was brave to keep digging in when we took off at the 600m.

"He's a tough old warrior," Schiller said.

The win also cracked the $2 million dollar prizemoney mark for the son of Contributer who was a $65,000 purchase from Book 2 at the 2019 Karaka sale from the Wellfield Lodge draft. 

"He was probably one of the first horses we bought when I came back training in my own right again,” trainer John O’Shea mused after the win, referring to his departure from Godolphin in 2017.

“He’s always dancing the big dance and he hasn’t had a lot of luck barrier-wise either. We are very proud of him and if you have a stable full of those horses, life is easy."

Congratulations to his ownership group Mrs S J Codner, Ms V L Sheils, Mr J A Denny, Mr S J Brown, Mrs L Miller, Mr S A Miller, Mr H Bayliss, Mr J G Codner, Lotave syndicate, Mr M E J Mcintyre, Ms M J M Lambert, Mrs D L Fisher, Mr G B Lamont, Mrs F J O'shea, Sedgewyn, Mr R M Hodge, Champion Thoroughbreds 1 syndicate.