LION CONTINUES TO ROAR AT RANDWICK

Group One winner Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer) will continue his autumn preparation at Randwick on Saturday.

The son of Contributer has continued to please trainer John O’Shea after his third placing in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at the Sydney track earlier this month, and he has elected to press on to the Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) with the gelding this weekend.

“He is in great order,” O’Shea told SENTrack. “He has had a really easy time. He has been at the beach this morning and he will do some pace work tomorrow.

“He is very fit, so it’s just a matter of keeping him happy, which he is. We are really happy with his condition this week.

“He loves 2000m at Randwick, so it’s an opportunity to continue to race against his own age. While that is still happening, we will probably keep him running.”

O’Shea said Lion’s Roar will also appreciate the expected improved track conditions on Saturday.

“A key for him is getting back on top of the ground where he can show his turn of speed,” he said.

“His last two runs have been on rain-affected tracks, which just dulls his turn of speed.

“He is much more effective when he can balance up and get on top of the ground.”

Lion’s Roar was purchased out of Wellfield Lodge’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale by Champion Thoroughbreds for $65,000.

He has won four of his nine starts, including the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m), and placed in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last October.