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Akihiro gets off the mark on fourth start at Wyong
Former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero) sired his fifth Australian-bred winner on Thursday when the Gary Portelli-trained Akihiro (2 c ex Lahana by Hussonet) got off the mark at the fourth attempt over 1350 metres at Wyong.
Last seen running seventh in the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) on March 7, the two-year-old colt finished strongly to beat Klopp (So You Think) by three-quarters of a length. Borsalina (Dane Shadow) was another two and a quarter lengths away in third.
Purchased by his trainer for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft in 2020, Akihiro becomes the third winner out of Lahana (Hussonet).
Lahana herself is out of multiple Group 1-winning champion Alinghi (Encosta De Lago) and she is sister to Slice Of Paradise - the dam of Group 3 winner and ill-fated Arrowfield stallion Beneteau (Redoute’s Choice).
Akihiro’s Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) half-brother was purchased for $800,000 by Asian Bloodstock Services at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Tuesday.
Last spring Lahana produced a colt by Maurice’s former barnmate Showtime (Snitzel) and he was covered by the same sire in September.
Maurice is the sire of 58 winners in total headed by three stakes winners in his native Japan; Grade 2 scorer Shigeru Pink Ruby and Grade 3-winning pair Rooks Nest and Pixie Knight.
The Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice stood at Arrowfield Stud for three seasons, but due to coronavirus the son of Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) did not return to the Hunter Valley stud last season. Maurice had four lots sell for $1,175,000 at an average of $293,750 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale earlier in the week.
