'Rare' Roheryn headed for the top

3 min read

Godolphin have unearthed what James Cummings described as a 'rare horse' and James McDonald 'something special' in Roheryn (Lonhro) who debuted with a comfortable win on a heavy track at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Roheryn is the final foal out of the Group-winning mare Mannington, making him a half-brother to Victoria Derby winner Benicio (More Than Ready {USA}) and multiple group winner Romneya (Red Ransom {USA}).

Having won a recent trial with some authority at Warwick Farm, expectations were very high for the 3-year-old, who never really handled the conditions, but still prevailed by 0.8l.

"I'm just glad that the colt has been able to win his first one. It was an important race to get his career underway and his preparation," Cummings told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"He's got a lovely action, he's a beautiful Lonhro colt with a big page. Hopefully he can be the sort of colt who can measure right up for us."

Cummings is considering stepping Roheryn straight into Group company next start in the G3 Red Anchor S. at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day.

"There's no doubt he's open to further improvement. He's got great style, a great action and the sort of build you can imagine he's going to improve. Hopefully, he's up to much stronger class from here."

"He's got a lovely action, he's a beautiful Lonhro colt with a big page. Hopefully he can be the sort of colt who can measure right up for us." - James Cummings

Cummings revealed Glyn Schofield's reaction to a recent track gallop by Roheryn told him everything he needed to know about the colt's potential.

"Schoey (Schofield) jumped on him in a gallop at Warwick Farm the other morning and gave him a strong canter. He just got off him and he had that look on him that he can get with a rare horse," he said.

It was McDonald who got the first feel of Roheryn in a racing environment on Wednesday and he couldn't have been more impressed.

"He's very special. He obviously didn’t really enjoy the ground because he has such a good turn of foot and he was not really able to use that. Good horses overcome big barriers and that's what he's done today," McDonald said.

"He's only had the one trial, it’s a good team effort to get him here in good order. He's one of those horses, if you want him to give you a length, he’ll give you two. He's got a great brain. He's going a long way."

"He's very special, He obviously didn’t really enjoy the ground because he has such a good turn of foot and he was not really able to use that. Good horses overcome big barriers and that's what he's done today." - James McDonald

Roheryn's half-brother Catesby (Shamradal) sold for $100,00 at the Gold Coast Spring Racehorse Sale on Tuesday to trainer Greg McFarlane.

The win on Roheryn was the start of a big day for McDonald, who rode five winners in tough conditions. He partnered with another Godolphin horse, the filly Colombina (Lonhro) to win the second race before prevailing on Cliff (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and Velocita (Sebring). and then winning the final race on another Cummings horse in Roosevelt (Exceed and Excel).