The John O’Shea-trained Lion’s Roar was sensational swooping late to win the 2021 Randwick Guineas at a mile running away ahead of his major target of the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on Slipper Day.

Lion’s Roar was enormous winning the 2021 Randwick Guineas ahead of the Rosehill Guineas next start. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Contributer gelding has been a work in progress according to O’Shea, who celebrated his 29^th career Group 1 victory in the $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m).

First-up Lion’s Roar was doing his best work late when fifth to the star Kiwi Aegon – disappointing as the well-beaten favourite today – in Rosehill’s Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and he relished getting out over further second-up at Royal Randwick.

Jockey Brenton Avdulla, now an eight-time Group 1 winning hoop including three at the famous Randwick mile, retained the ride on Lion’s Roar and rode the young stayer to perfection.

He took cover in the run as Marsannay and Peltzer led the field around.

Once on the straight, Avdulla made his move down the outside on Lion’s Roar who came charging home with a huge late run to go past all his rivals for a commanding victory.

Annabel Neasham’s promising Savabeel colt Mo’unga was enormous coming from well back to get up into second, while last year’s winning trainer Mark Newnham would have been happy with the big effort form his up-and-coming filly Harmony Rose who came off a luckless run to finish third.

O’Shea said the Rosehill Guineas over further on March 20 had always been the key autumn assignment in mind for Lion’s Roar, so to pick up the Randwick Guineas trophy on the way was a lovely bonus.

“Fantastic. Just an unbelievable run. He was just bolting, had that big action down the outside and Breton was cool as a cucumber. Very, very special. He’s a bit of a champion. Unbelievable,” an emotional O’Shea told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-win.

“That’s the way to do it.

“I just knew he’d made a load of improvement from the other day.

“It’s just very exciting. He’s just been a work in progress with this race and the Rosehill Guineas in mind and I think we’re sort of on track.

“To pick up this race along the way is very, very good. Hopefully we can get to Rosehill in a couple of weeks and he can be just as effective.

“He’s a serious horse.”

Lion’s Roar has now firmed in from $11 to $4.80 in futures Rosehill Guineas 2021 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to become the second horse in three years to do the double joining The Autumn Sun (2019).

After the massive effort for second, Mo’unga now leads all-in Rosehill Guineas odds at $3.40.

Despite the disappointing run for sixth, the previously undefeated Aegon is still being kept safe for the 2000m event at $6.

Click here for the latest pre-field Rosehill Guineas 2021 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Randwick Guineas Results

Table Credit: Racing Australia.