Scoring Up

Glenview Lanikai’s victory in the $75,000 Group 2 Granny Smith Final has provided a timely boost for her sire, Soho Lanikai, as the stallion prepares for his first breeding season at Medowie Lodge in New South Wales.

Trained at North Latrobe by Ben Parker, Glenview Lanikai was bred by Michael and Carol LeFevre and is raced on lease by Parker alongside a syndicate of eight family members and friends. The talented mare is out of the New York Motoring mare Motoring Rivers.

The Group 2 success was a career-defining moment for Parker, who has enjoyed a remarkable start to his training career. The Granny Smith Final victory came with just his 14th starter since taking out his trainer’s licence.

Parker had driven Glenview Lanikai at her previous two starts, including her heat victory, but elected to hand the reins to Gareth Rattray for the rich final—a decision that paid dividends.

While it was Parker’s first Group 2 training success, he was no stranger to winning Tasmania’s premier four-year-old features, having driven Pardoe Plugga to victory in the 2020 Raider Stakes for trainer Leigh Rant.

For Medowie Lodge proprietor Darren Reay, the result couldn’t have come at a better time.

Soho Lanikai, an unbeaten son of champion sire Somebeachsomewhere, has now produced seven winners from just 10 starters—an outstanding strike rate that highlights the stallion’s early promise.

Among his leading performers is Captain Moore, who won four races in Australia before being sold to North America last year. Since arriving in the United States, Captain Moore has added another 10 victories, including success at Black Type level in the Grand Prix Consolation.

As a racehorse, Soho Lanikai showed exceptional talent despite making just one appearance. At his only start, in the Listed Premier Stakes as a two-year-old, he demolished his rivals by 65 metres, recording a slick mile rate of 1:54.0.

His pedigree is equally impressive.

Soho Lanikai is by champion sire Somebeachsomewhere from the outstanding American Ideal mare Obahma Joy, winner of the Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge. Obahma Joy has also produced Major Obahma, a winner of more than $100,000.

The pedigree runs even deeper, with Soho Lanikai’s granddam a half-sister to champion racemare Make Mine Cullen, whose outstanding career produced 40 victories—including numerous Group 1 successes—and earnings of $874,178.

Standing this season at Medowie Lodge, Soho Lanikai is available at a service fee of $2,000 (including GST). His progeny are also eligible for the $500 Colonial Sires Bonus offered by Harness Racing New South Wales, adding further appeal for breeders seeking proven value and an emerging young sire.