One to Watch – Bendigo

Tara Madgwick - Thursday July 11

Patience might be going to pay off for the connections of this beautiful three year-old Lonhro filly that sold for $1,050,000 at Magic Millions in 2022 and opened her account at Bendigo on Thursday.

Sledding is off the mark with a win - image Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Consigned by Widden and knocked down to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, Sledding was sent to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, who produced her for one start last season at two when she finished midfield at Sandown in May.

Given a long spell due to some troubling foot issues, Sledding showed she had put that behind her in recent trials and was sent out favourite for the 1100m maiden with Damian Lane in the saddle.

Advertisement

She jumped fast from a wide gate and found the lead, coasting home to win by a length and a half.

“She showed good improvement this time in with two good trials and it’s great to see her bring that to race day,” said Damian Lane.

“She showed in her jumpouts that she will be better when ridden a little more conservatively, but when she begun well from the wide draw I decided to be positive and because she is better than this grade she won accordingly.”

Sledding was the most expensive yearling by Lonhro sold in 2022.

Bred by John and Anne McDonnell with advice from Pedigree Dynamics Jane Henning, Sledding was foaled and raised at Widden and is the first foal of multiple Group III winning Not a Single Doubt mare Cool Passion, who was also sourced as a racemare for the McDonnell’s by Pedigree Dynamics.

Cool Passion has had two subsequent foals that have both been sold as yearlings. A Zoustar filly made $510,000 at Inglis Easter last year when bought by Yulong and a colt by Ole Kirk made $400,000 at Inglis Easter this year bought by E Yeung, with both yearlings consigned by Widden.

Cool Passion was covered by Toronado (IRE) last spring after missing the previous year.

Advertisment

Race Result - Bet365 Protest Promise Mdn Plate 1100m

Bendigo Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:05.12
1
Sledding
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Cool Passion (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Damian Lane 57
2
1.5
Winsome Flowers
- 3f Churchill (IRE) x Astral Flower (GB) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: Tom Madden 57
3
2
Final Countdown
- 3f Atomic (AUS) x Sophie's Finale (AUS) (Crystal Finale (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Thomas Stockdale 57
4
4.8
Impish Lady
- 3f Impending (AUS) x Lady Jetsetter (AUS) (Jet Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Gavin Bedggood Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
5
5.3
River Rose
- 3f Lord Kanaloa (JPN) x Tosen Proud (JPN) (Tosen Phantom (JPN))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Shinn 57
6
5.8
The Arrow
- 3f Tivaci (AUS) x Pawnee Pass (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: K Jennings 57
7
5.9
Spirit Of Flight
- 3f Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Private Nancy (AUS) (Soldier's Tale (USA))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: Ethan Brown 57
8
6.6
Arsenale
- 3f Smart Missile (AUS) x Heart Skipt A Beat (AUS) (Falvelon (AUS))
Tnr: R J Besanko Rdr: Carleen Hefel 57
9
8.1
Onnamusha
- 3f Brave Smash (JPN) x Meri Rani (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: A W Noonan Rdr: J Noonan 57
10
11.9
Zaaffair Steal
- 3f American Pharoah (USA) x Aljawzaa (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57
11
12.2
Miss Her
- 3f Needs Further (AUS) x Shilly Shally Miss (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: B Rawiller 57
12
12.3
Sonechka
- 3f Russian Revolution (AUS) x Zakayla (GB) (Aqlaam (GB))
Tnr: Charlotte Littlefield Rdr: Jack Hill 57
13
14.6
Can't Buy Love
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x Princess Layla (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: Zac Spain 57
14
22.6
Capitalizher
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x Mcivor Silk (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Simon Zahra Rdr: Nathan Punch 57
More Reading...
Winning Hat-Trick for Kiwi Purchase Grid Girl
New Zealand-bred mare Grid Girl made her first visit to Sydney on Sunday and maintained her rich vein of form, extending her winning sequence to three in the A$160,000 TAB Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
2026 Inglis Premier – Sire and Vendor Break Up
The 2026 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale is now online and there is a distinctly Yulong flavour to the sale with Victoria’s biggest farm also the biggest vendor and they stand three of the top five most represented sires.
Plenty of Quality in Condensed Book 2 of Karaka 2026
A graduate trifecta in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) provided a timely reminder of the quality that can be found in Book 2 of NZB’s National Yearling Sale, and more of the same can be expected at Karaka 2026.
US Debut 2YO Winner for Aussie Speedster Houtzen
Magic Millions talk is everywhere as we head towards January and the winner of the MM 2YO Classic in 2017 was I Am Invincible filly Houtzen, who produced a debut winning juvenile in the US over the weekend.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were just two heats for juveniles at Warwick Farm on Monday morning and both were won by Bjorn Baker trained youngsters with one of them the highest priced Australian sold yearling by first season sire Sword of State.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 7
Here is the full list of 63 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Inglis Premier Now Online
The catalogue for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale – the source of the past three The Everest winners that were offered at public auction – is now available online.
Campionessa Sister Adds to Mapperley Family of Success
Simms Davison is more than happy to play the long game with his broodmare gem Bella Carolina and her family.
Glamour Savabeel Mare Orchestral Retired to Stud
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare suffered an atrial fibrillation when running 10th in last month’s Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), and the decision was made to bring the curtain down on her racing career.
$2.2million Zoustar Filly Goes Two from Two
The highest priced yearling by champion sire Zoustar sold in 2024 when fetching $2.2million at Inglis Easter, Plaintiff was stepping out at Rosehill on Sunday for her second race start and kept her record perfect.