Lonhro colt has the X-factor

Lonhro colt Exosphere emulated his paternal half-brother Denman">Denman with a dominant win in the G1 Golden Rose in race-record time at Rosehill, September 12.

In the opening stages of the 1400m race jockey James McDonald positioned Exosphere just behind the speed. When the gap opened at the top of the straight, the striking black colt burst through and quickly put the race beyond doubt. On the line Exosphere was over two lengths clear of his nearest rival.

Bred by Darley, Exosphere is the second foal to race from metropolitan-winning Danzero mare Altitude, who like Denman’s dam Peach, is a granddaughter of Marscay.

Exosphere took his record to four wins from six career starts, with his other Group victories being the G2 Skyline Stakes as a juvenile and the G2 Run to the Rose two weeks ago. He joins Denman, Epaulette and Hallowed Crown as Darley-sired winners of the Golden Rose.

Lonhro is now the sire of seven G1 winners. He is standing at Kelvinside at a fee of $88,000 inc. GST alongside two of his G1-winning sons in Denman ($27,500 inc. GST) and Benfica ($5,500 inc. GST).