American agent John Moynihan announced his arrival on the
scene in Australia by outlaying $840,000 at the 2014 Easter Yearling Sale for a
Lonhro filly from the draft of Turangga Farm.
That was and remains the highest price paid for a filly by
Lonhro and second overall to the $1.05 million colt at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock
Premier Yearling sale.
Racing in the colours of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables
made famous by the champion Curlin, that Lonhro filly named Kangarilla Joy earned
her second win from three starts in Saturday's Schweppes Sprint 3YO (1100m) at
Rosehill.
Ridden by Blake Shinn for Peter and Paul Snowden, Kangarilla
Joy finished strongly to nose out a determined Bitburg (Time Thief) by a
short-half-head. (photo Steve Hart).
The Gary Portelli's Wide Acclaim (Congrats) was a further
one and a half-length back in third.
Peter Snowden said he had stakes ambitions for the lightly
raced daughter of Lonhro.
"It was a good job," Snowden said.
"She had to do all the chasing.
"I'll find another race for her in a couple of weeks
then look at the Light Fingers."
The $175,000 Group II Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) will be run at Randwick on February 13.
Winning rider Blake Shinn was also impressed by the filly
who was making her first start since disappointing at Randwick last August.
"Good tough effort," Shinn said. "She had to make
a long run getting up on the inside first-up with the big weight.
"She's got a touch of quality this filly and is going
to go on with it."
Kangarilla Joy is the fourth foal of the winning Zeditave
mare Midnight Joy a daughter of the top-class mare Midnight Fever (Luskin Star)
whose eight wins include the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
A sister to multiple Group II winner Startling Lass, the dam
of Golden Slipper runner-up Shovhog, Midnight Fever is the ancestress of many
stakes-winners including the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic
(Fastnet Rock).
Midnight Joy has a yearling filly by Charge Forward and a
filly foal by Lonhro. She was bred back to the champion son of Octagonal again
this season.
