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Champion Thoroughbreds | Champion Thoroughbreds News 60697 End Of An Era Lions Roar Retires
End Of An Era: Lion's Roar Retires
Fri, Dec 27, 2024
After 41 starts and over $2.3M in prize money including a Group 1 win the 2021 Randwick Guineas, the curtain has closed on Lion's Roar's career.
Purchased from Book 2 at the New Zealand Karaka yearling sale in 2019 for just $65,000, Lion’s Roar has exceeded every expectation, taking his connections on the ride of a lifetime. He achieved six wins, ten minor placings spanning over 5 years but it was humble beginnings for the son of Contributer, making his debut as a winter 2YO in a maiden at the Wagga carnival in 2020. He would win that race, his only victory on a Heavy track, defeating a fellow juvenile named Another One trained by local horseman Gary Colvin. Another One turned out a very handy horse himself, winning the 2022 Country Championships and over $1M in prizemoney. His ownership group never could have dreamed what would come next.
At his second career start as a spring 3YO, Lion's Roar ventured up to Newcastle for a Saturday Benchmark 64 over 1400m where he finished 2nd to nonother than subsequent Group 1 winner Mo'unga. It would be the start of a rivalry for the two as they would go on to meet on several occasions throughout their 3YO year.
Lion went on to notch up two provincial wins before tackling the Group 1 Spring Champion stakes over 2000m where he was sent around as a $16 shot. He was ridden to perfection by Brenton Avdulla that day, only to be beaten by top class filly Montefilia.
The Autumn was shaping up as an exciting contest with the Rosehill Guineas the main target for trainer John O'Shea. The plan being, for Lion to have two lead up races into the 2000m event. After finishing 5th in the Hobartville when first-up, Lion was touted a $21 chance in the Randwick Guineas second-up. From a wide draw, Avdulla was forced back in the field but Lion travelled ever so strongly underneath him, steaming up the Randwick rise to show his customary brilliant turn of foot to go on and defeat the fast finishing Mo'unga by 1.3L. Brenton Avdulla stood straight up in the stirrups and gave a memorable celebratory gesture crossing the line.
Mo'unga would turn the tables on Lion in the Rosehill Guineas where he finished 4th, beaten 1.8 lengths. He would then line up in the Group 1 ATC Derby where he finished a gallant 3rd, beaten just 0.3L by Explosive Jack and Young Werther.
A tendon injury would sideline him for close to a year as a four year old after 5 runs in the spring where his best result was a third in the Craven Plate behind Think it Over and Sky Lab. His owners were incredibly patient throughout the tedious rehabilitation program and anxiously followed his return to racing closely. After two sound runs in The Hunter and Festival stakes, returning from his long lay-off, Lion's Roar returned to brilliant form when narrowly beaten by the barest of margins in the $2M The Ingham at Randwick in December of 2022, only to be beaten by stable mate Kirwan's Lane. It was the beginning of many thrilling runner-up efforts, including a whisker margin in the 2023 Wagga Cup and herculean effort in the Little Dance from barrier 20, lumping 62kg's - a near impossible task, made possible by the heart and determination of our Lion.
Leo would go on to win two more races in his career before retiring, taking out the 2023 Summer Cup and the 2024 Wyong Cup. In consultation with his trainer John O'Shea, the decision was made that with nothing left to prove, Lion would retire a happy and sound horse at the age of 7 following his run in the 2024 Summer Cup.
He truly was a once-in-a-lifetime horse and we will be forever grateful.
Purchased from Book 2 at the New Zealand Karaka yearling sale in 2019 for just $65,000, Lion’s Roar has exceeded every expectation, taking his connections on the ride of a lifetime. He achieved six wins, ten minor placings spanning over 5 years but it was humble beginnings for the son of Contributer, making his debut as a winter 2YO in a maiden at the Wagga carnival in 2020. He would win that race, his only victory on a Heavy track, defeating a fellow juvenile named Another One trained by local horseman Gary Colvin. Another One turned out a very handy horse himself, winning the 2022 Country Championships and over $1M in prizemoney. His ownership group never could have dreamed what would come next.
At his second career start as a spring 3YO, Lion's Roar ventured up to Newcastle for a Saturday Benchmark 64 over 1400m where he finished 2nd to nonother than subsequent Group 1 winner Mo'unga. It would be the start of a rivalry for the two as they would go on to meet on several occasions throughout their 3YO year.
Lion went on to notch up two provincial wins before tackling the Group 1 Spring Champion stakes over 2000m where he was sent around as a $16 shot. He was ridden to perfection by Brenton Avdulla that day, only to be beaten by top class filly Montefilia.
The Autumn was shaping up as an exciting contest with the Rosehill Guineas the main target for trainer John O'Shea. The plan being, for Lion to have two lead up races into the 2000m event. After finishing 5th in the Hobartville when first-up, Lion was touted a $21 chance in the Randwick Guineas second-up. From a wide draw, Avdulla was forced back in the field but Lion travelled ever so strongly underneath him, steaming up the Randwick rise to show his customary brilliant turn of foot to go on and defeat the fast finishing Mo'unga by 1.3L. Brenton Avdulla stood straight up in the stirrups and gave a memorable celebratory gesture crossing the line.
Mo'unga would turn the tables on Lion in the Rosehill Guineas where he finished 4th, beaten 1.8 lengths. He would then line up in the Group 1 ATC Derby where he finished a gallant 3rd, beaten just 0.3L by Explosive Jack and Young Werther.
A tendon injury would sideline him for close to a year as a four year old after 5 runs in the spring where his best result was a third in the Craven Plate behind Think it Over and Sky Lab. His owners were incredibly patient throughout the tedious rehabilitation program and anxiously followed his return to racing closely. After two sound runs in The Hunter and Festival stakes, returning from his long lay-off, Lion's Roar returned to brilliant form when narrowly beaten by the barest of margins in the $2M The Ingham at Randwick in December of 2022, only to be beaten by stable mate Kirwan's Lane. It was the beginning of many thrilling runner-up efforts, including a whisker margin in the 2023 Wagga Cup and herculean effort in the Little Dance from barrier 20, lumping 62kg's - a near impossible task, made possible by the heart and determination of our Lion.
Leo would go on to win two more races in his career before retiring, taking out the 2023 Summer Cup and the 2024 Wyong Cup. In consultation with his trainer John O'Shea, the decision was made that with nothing left to prove, Lion would retire a happy and sound horse at the age of 7 following his run in the 2024 Summer Cup.
He truly was a once-in-a-lifetime horse and we will be forever grateful.
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