Shortly after his 5yo daughter Bounding romped to a four length win over Rich Enuff in the Group III theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield, Lonhro's enigmatic son Exosphere threw down the challenge to the nation's best three-year-olds when he came from last to claim the Group II MTA NSW Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Making her first start for Peter and Paul Snowden, Bounding looked every inch the Group 1 winning sprinter she is with a hugely impressive performance.
Kerrin McEvoy was swinging on the daughter of Lonhro as Rich Enuff cut out the pace in his first start since failing in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes won by Brazen Beau at Flemington last November.
When McEvoy let the reins out a notch, Bounding cleared away to defeat Rich Enuff by four lengths with Miss Promiscuity a long-neck back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
"It was just what we wanted to see. She had a great record before we got her but it's good to see her do it for us," Peter Snowden said.
"She settled really well, relaxed well, towed Kerrin around the corner and let down beautifully."
Snowden said the Group I Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26 was the race he was targeting this spring.
"The main reason we came here today was with that race in mind," he said.
"I think the race is tailor made for her, depending on weights."
Winner of the 2014 Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie trained by Ken and Bev Kelso Bounding raced in Melbourne last spring, finishing runner-up to Chautauqua in the Group II Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington last October and runner-up to Vain Queen in the Group III Mumm Stakes (1100m).
The only time Bounding finished off the board was when she finished last in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes going to the line hard held after being blocked down the length of the straight.
A $425,000 Inglis Easter purchase for her owner Gary Harding from the Willow Park Stud draft, Bounding is the first winner for former smart juvenile Believe 'n' Succeed, a daughter of Exceed and Excel that won the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude.
A sister to Group II winner and Darley stallion Kuroshio, Believe 'n' Succeed has a 2yo colt by Street Cry (IRE) and a weanling filly from the final crop of the son of Machiavellian.
Making his seasonal debut, Godolphin's Exosphere came from last of the five starters in the Run To The Rose to defeat Hinchinbrook's Group 1 winner Press Statement by one and a quarter lengths with the winner's stablemate Holler a half-length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
The 3yo son of Lonhro threw in a clunker in the Golden Slipper last season after opening his stakes account with a four length win in the Group II Skyline Stakes at Warwick Farm.
"We know he is a class horse, we've said that all along," winning trainer John O'Shea said.
"We've learnt a lot more about him and hopefully going forward he can still continue to race well.
"He has grown into his big frame. When you see him walk into the enclosure, he has made dramatic transformation from an autumn two-year-old to a spring three-year-old.
"I think he has got a big sprinting future ahead of him. You will see him next in the Golden Rose in a fortnight."
Making it a double on the day, winning rider Same Clipperton said Exosphere has a bright future.
"He is a lovely horse in the making, he is a serious racehorse actually," Clipperton said.
"I had to switch across the two main chances heels in Japonisme and Press Statement, they had the momentum on me.
"For my horse to pick himself up with 59 (kgs), it was an almighty effort and it goes to show just how much of a good horse he is."
"That was only his first-up effort and he has got a lot of improvement left in him."
Bred by Darley, Exosphere is the second foal of the multiple Melbourne winner Altitude.
A daughter of Danzero, Altitude is out of the stakes-placed Marscay mare Highest.
Altitude has a yearling filly by Bernardini (USA) but missed to Reset last spring.
The huge throng that attended the recent Darley stallion parade universally declared that the much loved Lonhro had never looked better.
He could not have started the new season in better style.