Lion’s Roar breaks drought in Summer Cup at Randwick

Lion’s Roar might not have won for nearly three years but the gelding still holds a special place for trainer John O’Shea, especially after his droughtbreaking win at Randwick.

Lion’s Roar’s victory in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) was his first since taking out the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) way back in March 2021.

Despite the passage of time, O’Shea says the son of two-time Group 1 winner Contributer hasn’t let him down.

“He was probably one of the first horses we bought when I came back training in my own right again,” O’Shea said with reference to the NZ$65,000 purchase at Karaka in 2019.

“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.

“He’s now broken the $2 million mark, we got him for (AU)$60,000 out of New Zealand.”

Lion’s Roar came off a third placing in Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick on December 9.

Not missed in the market, Lion’s Roar $2.80 betting apps favourite won by a neck-margin in a driving finish over Luncies ($11) with Baby Rider ($4.20) in third.

“He feels like he’s a bit tired at the moment but after a spell I think he’ll do a great job,” jockeyTyler Schiller said.

Those thoughts were shared by O’Shea.

“Hopefully it hasn’t finished,” O’Shea said of the six-year-old.

“It is a little kick-along for him and he’ll go to the paddock with his tail in the air and there’s no reason why he couldn’t pick up another race or two next season.”

Though Lion’s Roar will be spelling at the time, the last of the summer distance features in Sydney occurs with the Listed January Cup (2000m) at Rosehill on January 13.