Australia’s Point Lonsdale Draws Clear To Fifth Group Win

Point Lonsdale (5h Australia – Sweepstake, by Acclamation) drew clear to record his sixth black-type win Thursday’s Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained entire won a Group 2 over ten and a half furlongs at the track last season and stepped up to a mile and five furlongs for the first time on Thursday. Sent off favourite under Ryan Moore, the bay raced in touch with the leaders and was pushed along from three furlongs out. Leading after the turn for home, he was soon clear and stayed on well to beat fellow Group 1 performer Arrest by six and a half lengths.

“We're delighted with Point Lonsdale, he's such a versatile horse,” Paul Smith said after the race. “You could step him up and run him in the Gold Cup, you could drop him back and run in something like the Coronation Cup. You could do anything with him. He loves any ground and is just a pleasure to have.”

Point Lonsdale has enjoyed success at the Royal meeting, having won the Chesham Stakes, while he previously finished third in the Group 1 Coronation Cup. Group 1 placed as a juvenile, he is a full-brother to the similarly versatile Broome (Australia), himself a seven-time Group winner. The pair were bred by Epona Bloodstock.