Lion’s Roar set for Summer Cup swansong
Lion’s Roar is set for another Summer Cup tilt at Randwick in what will be the Group 1 winner’s final race start before retirement.
A winner of six of his 40 career starts, Lion’s Roar has achieved Group 1 success in the 2021 Randwick Guineas and he also placed in the Spring Champion Stakes and Australian Derby at the elite level during his three-year-old season.
In more recent times, the gelding has added a couple more stakes wins to his CV with victory in last year’s edition of the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick, while in September this year he also won the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m).
The seven-year-old gelding, who is trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, heads into his attempt at back-to-back Summer Cups on Thursday having been unplaced in his past four starts over 1600m since his Wyong Cup success.
He steps back up in distance to 2000m on Thursday.
“Look, he’s had a really good year, but he’s probably just fallen off his best form in his last couple of runs where perhaps he hasn’t had the rub of the green with the way things have panned out,” Charlton said.
“But he seems to be working well and let’s hope probably that step to 2000 metres might be what he’s looking for.
“This will probably be his last race. He’s done a great job. He’s getting on a bit and he doesn’t owe us anything.”
Syndicator Champion Thoroughbreds have since announced in social media posts that the Summer Cup will be Lion’s Roar’s final start.
A stable stalwart for the O’Shea yard in recent seasons, Lion’s Roar is among a field of 12 for the Summer Cup and Charlton admits it would be a nice if the well-performed gelding could cause an upset on Thursday.
“It would (be nice), and even just to run well and most importantly, as long as he’s safe and sound,” Charlton said.
“He’s been an absolute pleasure for the stable. I think he’s won about $2.3 million and was a $60,000 purchase for Champion Thoroughbreds. So, (he’s been a) great horse.”
Lion’s Roar has 55.5kg, which is 0.5kg more than he carried to victory last year, and he will be ridden by visiting UK-based jockey Billy Loughnane.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...