Lonhro
Encyclopedia
Lonhro was a champion Australian racehorse who is now standing at stud. Nicknamed "The Black Flash", Lonhro was from the first crop of the champion Octagonal
out of the Group One
-placed Shadea (by Straight Strike), who also produced the Group One winner Niello (a younger, full-brother to Lonhro). Lonhro raced from two to five years of age and won 26 races, including 25 stakes races, ranging in distance from 1,100 to 2,000 metres. These included 11 Group One wins and 18 wins at weight-for-age. He was bred and owned by Woodlands Stud, and trained by John Hawkes
. Lonhro's name is based on the stock exchange code of the London Rhodesian Mining and Land Company, LONRHO. This arose from his foaling description as "tiny but
perfect", a label ascribed to Roland "Tiny" Rowland
, CEO of the company. The horse's name is deliberately misspelt.
It was then on to the Blue Diamond Stakes where Lonhro started the $3.50 favourite. Settling near the rear of the field, Lonhro came wide in the straight making ground on the leaders but unable to catch the eventual winner True Jewels, finishing 1½ lengths fourth. Instead of pressing on to the Sydney carnival Lonhro was spelled as another near black Woodlands colt called Viscount won the AJC Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes.
Lonhro returned for the 2001 Spring in the WFA
Missile Stakes, being run in July he was still officially a 2yo. Settling last of nine runners on a heavy track, Lonhro stormed home to finished third to Sportsbrat, this was to be the first and last time that Lonhro would be defeated in consecutive races.
Lonhro then headed to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas-Gr1 (1,600 m) but despite his four consecutive wins he was not the Hawkes' stable favoured runner. That honour went to the multiple Group 1 winner Viscount who had started his spring campaign in Sydney and had recorded victory in the George Main Stakes-Gr1 (1,600 m) where he, like Lonhro, had defeated Shogun Lodge. In the Caulfield Guineas, the boom colts Ustinov and Viking Ruler also lined up along with New Zealander Pure Theatre, Dash for Cash and Magic Albert. It was perhaps, the best field seen in the race. Lonhro settled last before pulling out wide to the centre of the track to start his run on the home turn. Inside the final 50 metres Lonhro swept to the front from Pure Theatre and Ustinov as Viking Ruler ran on near the rails but it was all Lonhro as he came away to win by 1½ lengths from Ustinov with Pure Theatre third.
After the victory it was reported that Lonhro had suffered an injury with a minor wrench to a joint and it was felt in his best interests to spell for the autumn, meaning he would miss the WS Cox Plate. Stablemate Viscount who was well beaten in the Caulfield Guineas went on to Moonee Valley and was gallant in finishing third to Northerly
and Sunline
, defeated just a length, in a rough-house finish that was the subject of a long protest hearing.
On 2 February 2002, Lonhro lined up as the odds-on favourite for the Royal Sovereign Stakes-Gr2 (1,200 m), beginning a run of 25 consecutive races that he would start as favourite. Lonhro easily accounted for the small field before going on to win the Hobartville Stakes-Gr2 (1,400m) at his next start. Installed as pre-post favourite for the Doncaster Handicap
and a nominal favourite for many of the big races of the Autumn, it was announced soon after that Lonhro had contracted a virus and the resultant delay in his preparation saw the 3yo spelled until his four year old season.
-Gr1 (1,600m) but it was described as a mini Cox Plate with Sunline
, Defier, Lonhro, Excellerator and Shogun Lodge entered. Desperately unlucky, Lonhro was pocketed on the fence for much of the race and only saw daylight in the last 50 m, sprinting home to finish fourth. Sunline set a moderate pace in front from Defier then Shogun Lodge outside Lonhro with Hey Pronto and Excellerator at the rear.
Lonhro was then sent to Melbourne for a rematch with Sunline in the Caulfield Stakes
-Gr1 (2,000m). A field of seven lined up but all race discussions were whether Sunline as a 7yo would return to form and if Lonhro having his first start beyond 1,600m would be as effective over 2,000 m. The race was a spectacle with Sunline assuming her usual front running style and Lonhro stalking for most of the race in about third position. Little changed up to the 800m where Sunline started to show her old form as she quickened from Ustinov and Lonhro started the long chase with Distinctly Secret heading the rest but they were in another race. Around the turn and the crowd roared as Sunline raced clear of Ustinov with Lonhro steadily making ground but giving the mare a huge head start
. By the 300 m Sunline was over three lengths clear as Lonhro settled into his task. By the 200 m Sunline was in front but Lonhro was gaining and the crowd was deafening as the two great horses fought out the race. Inside the final 50m Sunline and Lonhro were level with the mare fighting back strongly but her younger rival edged in front to win by a half neck in race record time of 2:00:60.
Both horses then headed to the WS Cox Plate two weeks later where Lonhro started $4 equal favouite with Northerly, but fans wondered how much the titanic struggle at Caulfield may have taken out of him. Settling last in a field of nine, Lonhro was beaten, finishing 7.3 lengths behind Northerly. It was a disappointing effort. Lonhro backed up a week later in the Mackinnon S-Gr1 (2,000m) at Flemington, edging out Royal Code to finish his 2002 spring campaign on a winning note.
Lonhro resumed in the 2003 autumn winning in the Expressway S-Gr2 (1,200m) by 2 lengths, three weeks later he crushed field in the Apollo S-Gr2 (1,400m), winning by 3½ lengths with a further 2 lengths to third. He was back a week later in the Chipping Norton Stakes
-Gr1 (1,600m) at Warwick Farm, coming away to win under hands and heels riding by 1½ lengths from Shogun Lodge. Next on the agenda was the George Ryder S-Gr1 (1,500m) at Rosehill where Lonhro again won easily, this time by a 2 length margin. Lonhro was the raging favourite for the Doncaster Handicap
-Gr1 (1,600 m) at Randwick, where he would carry topweight of 57.5 kg. Defier and Shogun Lodge looked to be his main dangers but then the rain fell and both his rivals were scratched when the track was rated officially slow. Inside the final 200m Grand Armee
, carrying 6 kg less than Lonhro, hit the front and race clear to pass the post three lengths ahead of Dash For Cash with two lengths to Boreale who held out Lonhro for third. This was Lonhro's third and final unplaced run in a race.
Lonhro rounded out his autumn a week later in the Queen Elizabeth S-Gr1 (2,000 m), making amends for his Doncaster failure in winning by 1½ lengths.
There was brief speculation that Lonhro might be retired to stud but it was soon announced that Lonhro would return to racing as a 5yo with the WS Cox Plate his spring target. Sadly Lonhro's part owner Mr Jack Ingham died after a long battle with illness in August 2003 as Lonhro prepared to return to racing.
-Gr1 (1,600m) at Randwick and a rematch with Grand Armee was next. In a slowly run race Lonhro defeated Grand Armee by three lengths, with a further two lengths to the previous year's winner Defier in third. It was then to back to Melbourne for the Caulfield Stakes
-Gr1 (2,000m) where Lonhro had a much easier time beating Mummify, than the previous year when he battled with Sunline. Winning by two lengths, Lonhro became the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Stakes since Kingston Town in 1981 and 1982.
Two weeks later Lonho looked invincible in the Cox Plate-Gr1 (2,040m) with recent stars Sunline and Northerly missing and only Defier and Fields of Omagh joining Lonhro from the 2002 field. There were doubts over Lonhro handling the Moonee Valley surface but his class was expected to overcome any problems. Then in the 40 minutes before the race it began to rain, continuing through to the race itself. The track was dead, but soggy. In the running, Fields of Omagh hit the lead around the turn as Defier challenged and Lonhro lost ground trying to balance up for the straight. In the straight, Fields of Omagh refused to give in to Defier with Lonhro closing down the outside. But it was too late as Fields of Omagh crossed the line to win by a long neck from Defier with Lonhro a half length away third as the rest of the field came in at intervals behind them. So for the second year running, Lonhro had failed to run as well as expected in the Cox Plate. Critics claimed that the horse was a fair weather champion, dominant in small weight-for-age fields but unable to cope with the pressure of a larger field. Whatever the case, it is doubtlessly true that Lonhro had the necessary talent to win a genuine championship race, such as the Cox Plate, or Doncaster Handicap, but never actually did so. The reasons for this are particularly puzzling given his incredible consistency in races just a shade lower in rank.
In 2004, Lonhro opened his campaign in the C.F. Orr S-Gr1 (1,400 m) at Caulfield. Inside the final 100m he swept up on the outside to hit the front from Sound Action and Super Elegant as Vocabulary took a narrow run between them. Vocabulary lunged at Lonhro but he was too good winning by a half head with Sound Action third. Lonhro took on a similar field in the St George S-Gr2(1,800 m) two weeks later, winning eased up by 1½ lengths. Lonhro then lined up in his final race in Melbourne in the Australian Cup-Gr1 (2,000 m) at Flemington and the Victorian Racing Club made the day into a farewell for the champ - all he had to do was win.
The field featured some of the stars of the spring with Lonhro joined by Makybe Diva
(Melbourne Cup
), Mummify
(Caulfield Cup
), and Elvstroem
(VRC Derby). Lonhro was hopelessly pocketed just 200 metres from home, but somehow managed to get out, run home and score a narrow victory in the final stride, beating Delzao. The crowd reaction was enormous, and the victory helped to put to rest any lingering doubts there were about Lonhro's class and tenacity.
Lonhro returned home to Sydney for his last two races before retirement. Both Octagonal and Lonhro were known for arriving at the barriers, stopping with head up and looking for the winning post (closely monitored by the on-track camera), then calmly walking into the barriers. On 3 April 2004, Lonhro competed in his second George Ryder S-Gr1 (1,500 m). His sire Octagonal (brought down from Woodlands Stud for the event) came into the mounting yard first, followed by Lonhro much to the delight of the waiting media and huge crowd of fans come to see father+son. Octagonal then lead out the field, who then galloped down the straight as the field went to the barriers.
The field jumped and Lonhro settled at the rear as usual. It was an evenly run race round the Rosehill track. In the final 100 m Lonhro started to race away winning by 2½ lengths from Grand Armee with a further 1½ lengths to Private Steer who was to win the Doncaster - All Aged Stakes - Gr1 double at her next two starts. Lonhro had just easily vanquished two exceptionally good milers, and done so easily.
On the final day of the AJC carnival, Lonhro lined up for his final race start in his second Queen Elizabeth Stakes-Gr1 (2,000 m). Again, Lonhro settled near the rear but Grand Armee's rider rode a tactically clever race, taking the lead and slowing down the pace in the middle part, whilst at the same time opening up a large gap between himself and Lonhro. In the straight, the gap was to prove too great for Lonhro and Grand Armee ran out the winner by six lengths. Grand Armee had spoiled Lonhro's farewell party.
with a comparable number of starts since the introduction of the award, and is higher than that of four of the five inaugural Hall Of Fame inductees - Phar Lap
, Bernborough
, Tulloch
, and Kingston Town
- and second only to Carbine
, who raced more than 100 years earlier. Lonhro's winning strike-rate in Group One races (64%) is the highest of any comparable Australian champion since the introduction of the system, including Kingston Town.
With the completion of the 2010-2011 Australian racing season Lonhro was crowned the Leading sire in Australia
. He ended the season some $1.2 million clear of his nearest rival Redoute's Choice
. It was the first time in 40 years that an Australian Champion Racehourse of the Year (2004) was also named Australian Champion Sire (2011). The last horse to complete the feat was Tulloch
. Lonhro's Group One winning horses to-date are Beaded, Benfica and Denman. Other Stakes winning horses include Euryale, Celts, Parables, Obsequious, Launay, Pinwheel, Tampiko and Dysphonia to name a few. In August 2011 Makybe Diva
produced her fourth foal, a colt by Lonhro. The colt was the result of a mating between two Australian Champion Racehorses of the Year, Lonhro (2004) and Makybe Diva (2005 & 2006). It is already estimated to be worth between $2-3 million.
Lonhro will shuttle to Darley's stallion farm at Jonabell in Lexington, Kentucky
for the 2012 northern hemisphere breeding season.
Octagonal
Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained...
out of the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
-placed Shadea (by Straight Strike), who also produced the Group One winner Niello (a younger, full-brother to Lonhro). Lonhro raced from two to five years of age and won 26 races, including 25 stakes races, ranging in distance from 1,100 to 2,000 metres. These included 11 Group One wins and 18 wins at weight-for-age. He was bred and owned by Woodlands Stud, and trained by John Hawkes
John Hawkes
John Hawkes, born John Clendennin Talbot Burne Hawkes, Jr. , was a postmodern American novelist, known for the intensity of his work, which suspended the traditional constraints of the narrative.-Biography:...
. Lonhro's name is based on the stock exchange code of the London Rhodesian Mining and Land Company, LONRHO. This arose from his foaling description as "tiny but
perfect", a label ascribed to Roland "Tiny" Rowland
Tiny Rowland
Roland "Tiny" Rowland was a British businessman and chairman of the Lonrho conglomerate from 1962 to 1994...
, CEO of the company. The horse's name is deliberately misspelt.
Two year old season: 2000-2001
Lonhro had his first start in November 2000 in a restricted two-year-old race at Rosehill where he finished second. A short spell followed and Lonhro resumed in January 2001 over 1,100 m at Rosehill, starting favourite for the first time and winning in good fashion by 2½ lengths. Two weeks later Lonhro was in Melbourne at Caulfield for the Blue Diamond Prelude. In the straight, Lonhro impressed the Melbourne crowd by striding well clear to win by two lengths from the fast finishing Neiwand with Tosamba third.It was then on to the Blue Diamond Stakes where Lonhro started the $3.50 favourite. Settling near the rear of the field, Lonhro came wide in the straight making ground on the leaders but unable to catch the eventual winner True Jewels, finishing 1½ lengths fourth. Instead of pressing on to the Sydney carnival Lonhro was spelled as another near black Woodlands colt called Viscount won the AJC Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes.
Lonhro returned for the 2001 Spring in the WFA
WFA
WFA may refer to:*Wilmington First Assembly, Pentecostal church located in Wilmington, Delaware, USA*Weapons Factory Arena, Quake III Arena class-based mod*Weight for Age, one of the conditions for a race in thoroughbred horse racing...
Missile Stakes, being run in July he was still officially a 2yo. Settling last of nine runners on a heavy track, Lonhro stormed home to finished third to Sportsbrat, this was to be the first and last time that Lonhro would be defeated in consecutive races.
Three year old season: 2001-2002
A rematch with Sportsbrat in the WFA Warwick Stakes-Gr2 (1,300 m) followed two weeks later. This time Lonhro settled closer to the lead and was able register his first win as a 3yo. For his next start Lonhro went back to his own age group in the Ming Dynasty Quality-Gr3 (1,400 m) and held on to win by a short half-head after being sent out a very short priced favourite. An easy win in the Heritage Stakes-LR (1,200 m) followed before he took out the Stan Fox Stakes-Gr2 (1,400 m) against a small but quality field.Lonhro then headed to Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas-Gr1 (1,600 m) but despite his four consecutive wins he was not the Hawkes' stable favoured runner. That honour went to the multiple Group 1 winner Viscount who had started his spring campaign in Sydney and had recorded victory in the George Main Stakes-Gr1 (1,600 m) where he, like Lonhro, had defeated Shogun Lodge. In the Caulfield Guineas, the boom colts Ustinov and Viking Ruler also lined up along with New Zealander Pure Theatre, Dash for Cash and Magic Albert. It was perhaps, the best field seen in the race. Lonhro settled last before pulling out wide to the centre of the track to start his run on the home turn. Inside the final 50 metres Lonhro swept to the front from Pure Theatre and Ustinov as Viking Ruler ran on near the rails but it was all Lonhro as he came away to win by 1½ lengths from Ustinov with Pure Theatre third.
After the victory it was reported that Lonhro had suffered an injury with a minor wrench to a joint and it was felt in his best interests to spell for the autumn, meaning he would miss the WS Cox Plate. Stablemate Viscount who was well beaten in the Caulfield Guineas went on to Moonee Valley and was gallant in finishing third to Northerly
Northerly
Northerly, foaled in 1996, was arguably Australia's best middle distance Thoroughbred horse of the early 2000s. Northerly, trained by Western Australian harness racing legend Fred Kersley, won nine Group One races, including the Australian Cup twice, and the Cox Plate, regarded as the Weight for...
and Sunline
Sunline
Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
, defeated just a length, in a rough-house finish that was the subject of a long protest hearing.
On 2 February 2002, Lonhro lined up as the odds-on favourite for the Royal Sovereign Stakes-Gr2 (1,200 m), beginning a run of 25 consecutive races that he would start as favourite. Lonhro easily accounted for the small field before going on to win the Hobartville Stakes-Gr2 (1,400m) at his next start. Installed as pre-post favourite for the Doncaster Handicap
Doncaster Handicap
The Doncaster Mile is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. Although the race has traditionally been held on Easter Monday, the race is now run on the third Saturday in April. The race is contested over 1,600 metres . The prizemoney in 2010 was A$1,510,000...
and a nominal favourite for many of the big races of the Autumn, it was announced soon after that Lonhro had contracted a virus and the resultant delay in his preparation saw the 3yo spelled until his four year old season.
Four year old season: 2002-2003
Lonhro returned bigger and stronger as a 4yo and again started his campaign in the Missile S-Gr3 (1,100m) at Rosehill. This was the first race where Lonhro was ridden by Darren Beadman and it was Lonhro's eighth consecutive victory, winning very easily by four lengths. As the short priced favourite Lonhro was expected to have no problem taking out the Warwick S-Gr2 (1,400m) at his next start but was beaten a half head by Defier. Two weeks later Lonhro made amends winning the Chelmsford S-Gr2 (1,600 m) at Randwick by three lengths. At his next start only six horses lined up for the George Main StakesGeorge Main Stakes
The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300....
-Gr1 (1,600m) but it was described as a mini Cox Plate with Sunline
Sunline
Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
, Defier, Lonhro, Excellerator and Shogun Lodge entered. Desperately unlucky, Lonhro was pocketed on the fence for much of the race and only saw daylight in the last 50 m, sprinting home to finish fourth. Sunline set a moderate pace in front from Defier then Shogun Lodge outside Lonhro with Hey Pronto and Excellerator at the rear.
Lonhro was then sent to Melbourne for a rematch with Sunline in the Caulfield Stakes
Caulfield Stakes
The VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the...
-Gr1 (2,000m). A field of seven lined up but all race discussions were whether Sunline as a 7yo would return to form and if Lonhro having his first start beyond 1,600m would be as effective over 2,000 m. The race was a spectacle with Sunline assuming her usual front running style and Lonhro stalking for most of the race in about third position. Little changed up to the 800m where Sunline started to show her old form as she quickened from Ustinov and Lonhro started the long chase with Distinctly Secret heading the rest but they were in another race. Around the turn and the crowd roared as Sunline raced clear of Ustinov with Lonhro steadily making ground but giving the mare a huge head start
Head start (positioning)
In positioning, a head start is a start in advance of the starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the finish line or desired outcome...
. By the 300 m Sunline was over three lengths clear as Lonhro settled into his task. By the 200 m Sunline was in front but Lonhro was gaining and the crowd was deafening as the two great horses fought out the race. Inside the final 50m Sunline and Lonhro were level with the mare fighting back strongly but her younger rival edged in front to win by a half neck in race record time of 2:00:60.
Both horses then headed to the WS Cox Plate two weeks later where Lonhro started $4 equal favouite with Northerly, but fans wondered how much the titanic struggle at Caulfield may have taken out of him. Settling last in a field of nine, Lonhro was beaten, finishing 7.3 lengths behind Northerly. It was a disappointing effort. Lonhro backed up a week later in the Mackinnon S-Gr1 (2,000m) at Flemington, edging out Royal Code to finish his 2002 spring campaign on a winning note.
Lonhro resumed in the 2003 autumn winning in the Expressway S-Gr2 (1,200m) by 2 lengths, three weeks later he crushed field in the Apollo S-Gr2 (1,400m), winning by 3½ lengths with a further 2 lengths to third. He was back a week later in the Chipping Norton Stakes
Chipping Norton Stakes
The Chipping Norton Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run at weight for age, over a distance of 1600 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in February or March.-Distance:* 1925 - 1972 held over 10 furlongs The Chipping Norton Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred...
-Gr1 (1,600m) at Warwick Farm, coming away to win under hands and heels riding by 1½ lengths from Shogun Lodge. Next on the agenda was the George Ryder S-Gr1 (1,500m) at Rosehill where Lonhro again won easily, this time by a 2 length margin. Lonhro was the raging favourite for the Doncaster Handicap
Doncaster Handicap
The Doncaster Mile is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. Although the race has traditionally been held on Easter Monday, the race is now run on the third Saturday in April. The race is contested over 1,600 metres . The prizemoney in 2010 was A$1,510,000...
-Gr1 (1,600 m) at Randwick, where he would carry topweight of 57.5 kg. Defier and Shogun Lodge looked to be his main dangers but then the rain fell and both his rivals were scratched when the track was rated officially slow. Inside the final 200m Grand Armee
Grand Armee (horse)
Grand Armee was a middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a brown gelding bred by Newhaven Park Stud, New South Wales. Grand Armee was by Hennessy , his dam Tambour won $132,200 and was by Marauding . He was trained by Gai Waterhouse.Grand Armee's biggest win was in the 2003...
, carrying 6 kg less than Lonhro, hit the front and race clear to pass the post three lengths ahead of Dash For Cash with two lengths to Boreale who held out Lonhro for third. This was Lonhro's third and final unplaced run in a race.
Lonhro rounded out his autumn a week later in the Queen Elizabeth S-Gr1 (2,000 m), making amends for his Doncaster failure in winning by 1½ lengths.
There was brief speculation that Lonhro might be retired to stud but it was soon announced that Lonhro would return to racing as a 5yo with the WS Cox Plate his spring target. Sadly Lonhro's part owner Mr Jack Ingham died after a long battle with illness in August 2003 as Lonhro prepared to return to racing.
Five year old season: 2003-2004
August 2003, Lonhro began his 5yo season with his second win in the AJC Warwick S-Gr2 (1,400m). Two weeks later, it was on to the Chelmsford S-Gr2 (1,600m) where Lonhro again cruised to an easy win. The WFA George Main StakesGeorge Main Stakes
The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300....
-Gr1 (1,600m) at Randwick and a rematch with Grand Armee was next. In a slowly run race Lonhro defeated Grand Armee by three lengths, with a further two lengths to the previous year's winner Defier in third. It was then to back to Melbourne for the Caulfield Stakes
Caulfield Stakes
The VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the...
-Gr1 (2,000m) where Lonhro had a much easier time beating Mummify, than the previous year when he battled with Sunline. Winning by two lengths, Lonhro became the first horse to win consecutive Caulfield Stakes since Kingston Town in 1981 and 1982.
Two weeks later Lonho looked invincible in the Cox Plate-Gr1 (2,040m) with recent stars Sunline and Northerly missing and only Defier and Fields of Omagh joining Lonhro from the 2002 field. There were doubts over Lonhro handling the Moonee Valley surface but his class was expected to overcome any problems. Then in the 40 minutes before the race it began to rain, continuing through to the race itself. The track was dead, but soggy. In the running, Fields of Omagh hit the lead around the turn as Defier challenged and Lonhro lost ground trying to balance up for the straight. In the straight, Fields of Omagh refused to give in to Defier with Lonhro closing down the outside. But it was too late as Fields of Omagh crossed the line to win by a long neck from Defier with Lonhro a half length away third as the rest of the field came in at intervals behind them. So for the second year running, Lonhro had failed to run as well as expected in the Cox Plate. Critics claimed that the horse was a fair weather champion, dominant in small weight-for-age fields but unable to cope with the pressure of a larger field. Whatever the case, it is doubtlessly true that Lonhro had the necessary talent to win a genuine championship race, such as the Cox Plate, or Doncaster Handicap, but never actually did so. The reasons for this are particularly puzzling given his incredible consistency in races just a shade lower in rank.
In 2004, Lonhro opened his campaign in the C.F. Orr S-Gr1 (1,400 m) at Caulfield. Inside the final 100m he swept up on the outside to hit the front from Sound Action and Super Elegant as Vocabulary took a narrow run between them. Vocabulary lunged at Lonhro but he was too good winning by a half head with Sound Action third. Lonhro took on a similar field in the St George S-Gr2(1,800 m) two weeks later, winning eased up by 1½ lengths. Lonhro then lined up in his final race in Melbourne in the Australian Cup-Gr1 (2,000 m) at Flemington and the Victorian Racing Club made the day into a farewell for the champ - all he had to do was win.
The field featured some of the stars of the spring with Lonhro joined by Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
(Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
), Mummify
Mummify
Mummify was a popular Australian Thoroughbred racehorse that amassed in prize money and won five Group One races, including the 2003 Caulfield Cup and the Singapore Airlines International Cup....
(Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
), and Elvstroem
Elvstroem
Elvstroem was an outstanding bay Thoroughbred racehorse, by world champion sire Danehill from the former champion three-year-old filly, Circles of Gold.-Dam:...
(VRC Derby). Lonhro was hopelessly pocketed just 200 metres from home, but somehow managed to get out, run home and score a narrow victory in the final stride, beating Delzao. The crowd reaction was enormous, and the victory helped to put to rest any lingering doubts there were about Lonhro's class and tenacity.
Lonhro returned home to Sydney for his last two races before retirement. Both Octagonal and Lonhro were known for arriving at the barriers, stopping with head up and looking for the winning post (closely monitored by the on-track camera), then calmly walking into the barriers. On 3 April 2004, Lonhro competed in his second George Ryder S-Gr1 (1,500 m). His sire Octagonal (brought down from Woodlands Stud for the event) came into the mounting yard first, followed by Lonhro much to the delight of the waiting media and huge crowd of fans come to see father+son. Octagonal then lead out the field, who then galloped down the straight as the field went to the barriers.
The field jumped and Lonhro settled at the rear as usual. It was an evenly run race round the Rosehill track. In the final 100 m Lonhro started to race away winning by 2½ lengths from Grand Armee with a further 1½ lengths to Private Steer who was to win the Doncaster - All Aged Stakes - Gr1 double at her next two starts. Lonhro had just easily vanquished two exceptionally good milers, and done so easily.
On the final day of the AJC carnival, Lonhro lined up for his final race start in his second Queen Elizabeth Stakes-Gr1 (2,000 m). Again, Lonhro settled near the rear but Grand Armee's rider rode a tactically clever race, taking the lead and slowing down the pace in the middle part, whilst at the same time opening up a large gap between himself and Lonhro. In the straight, the gap was to prove too great for Lonhro and Grand Armee ran out the winner by six lengths. Grand Armee had spoiled Lonhro's farewell party.
Race record
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Time!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 18 Nov 2000 | 2yo Restricted | Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
NA | 1100 m | 54.5 | 1:05.44 | R. Quinn | 1st - Royal Courtship |
| Won | 27 Jan 2001 | 2yo Hcp | Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
NA | 1100 m | 54.5 | 1:05.58 | R. Quinn | 2nd - London Eye |
| Won | 11 Feb 2001 | Blue Diamond Prelude Blue Diamond Prelude C&G The Blue Diamond Prelude is a Group 3 Australian thoroughbred horse race held under set weight conditions, for 2 year old colts and geldings, over a distance of 1100m. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G3 | 1100 m | 55.5 | 1:03.39 | B.Prebble | 2nd - Niewand |
| 4th | 24 Feb 2001 | Blue Diamond Stakes Blue Diamond Stakes The Blue Diamond Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for two year olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The race was first run in 1971 and is Victoria's richest two year old race with total prizemoney of A$1.0 million... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1200 m | 55.5 | 1:09.96 | B.Prebble | 1st - True Jewels |
| 3rd | 28 Jul 2001 | Missile Stakes Missile Stakes The Missile Stakes is a Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run at Weight for Age over a distance of 1100 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in August. Prizemoney is A$125,000.-Past winners:* 2011 Rain Affair * 2010 Love Conquers All... |
Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G3 | 1100 m | 51 | 1:06.69 | L. Cassidy | 1st - Sportsbrat |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Time!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 18 Aug 2001 | Warwick Stakes Warwick Stakes The Warwick Stakes is a Group 2 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age that was traditionally run over a distance of 1400 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in August... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G2 | 1300 m | 49.5 | 1:17.30 | D. McLellan | 2nd - Diamond Dane |
| Won | 01 Sep 2001 | Ming Dynasty Quality | Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G3 | 1400 m | 57.5 | 1:23.87 | R. Quinn | 2nd - Prince of Play |
| Won | 15 Sep 2001 | Heritage Stakes | Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
LR | 1200 m | 55.5 | 1:10.28 | R. Quinn | 2nd - Perfect Crime |
| Won | 29 Sep 2001 | Stan Fox Stakes Stan Fox Stakes The Stan Fox Stakes is an AJC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held annually at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in September... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1400 m | 55 | 1:24.00 | R. Quinn | 2nd - Magic Albert |
| Won | 13 Oct 2001 | Caulfield Guineas Caulfield Guineas The Caulfield Guineas is a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held over 1600 metres at set weights for three-year-old horses, held annually on the second Saturday in October and forms part of the Spring Carnival at Caulfield Racecourse. Total prize money is A$1 million... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1600 m | 55.5 | 1:36.70 | D. Gauci | 2nd - Ustinov |
| Won | 02 Feb 2002 | Royal Sovereign Stakes Royal Sovereign Stakes The Royal Sovereign Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, for three year-old colts and geldings, over a distance of 1200 metres... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G2 | 1200 m | 57.5 | 1:11.06 | R. Quinn | 2nd - Viking Ruler |
| Won | 16 Feb 2002 | Hobartville Stakes Hobartville Stakes The Hobartville Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year olds at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney every February... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1400 m | 55.5 | 1:23.58 | R. Quinn | 2nd - Athens |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Time!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 03 Aug 2002 | Missile Stakes Missile Stakes The Missile Stakes is a Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run at Weight for Age over a distance of 1100 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in August. Prizemoney is A$125,000.-Past winners:* 2011 Rain Affair * 2010 Love Conquers All... |
Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G3 | 1100 m | 57.5 | 1:03.53 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Ancient Song |
| 2nd | 24 Aug 2002 | Warwick Stakes Warwick Stakes The Warwick Stakes is a Group 2 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age that was traditionally run over a distance of 1400 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in August... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G2 | 1400 m | 57.5 | 1:21.85 | D. Beadman | 1st - Defier |
| Won | 07 Sep 2002 | Chelmsford Stakes Chelmsford Stakes The Chelmsford Stakes is an Australian Group 2 Thoroughbred horserace run over 1600 metres at Weight for Age at Randwick Racecourse Sydney in September... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1600 m | 57.5 | 1:36.30 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Platinum Scissors |
| 4th | 29 Sep 2002 | George Main Stakes George Main Stakes The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300.... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 1600 m | 57.5 | 1:38.31 | D. Beadman | 1st - Defier |
| Won | 12 Oct 2002 | Caulfield Stakes Caulfield Stakes The VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 2000 m | 57.5 | 2:00.60 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Sunline Sunline Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive... |
| 6th | 26 Oct 2002 | Cox Plate Cox Plate The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia... |
Moonee Valley Moonee Valley Racecourse Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club... |
G1 | 2040 m | 56.5 | 2:06.27 | D. Beadman | 1st - Northerly Northerly Northerly, foaled in 1996, was arguably Australia's best middle distance Thoroughbred horse of the early 2000s. Northerly, trained by Western Australian harness racing legend Fred Kersley, won nine Group One races, including the Australian Cup twice, and the Cox Plate, regarded as the Weight for... |
| Won | 02 Nov 2002 | MacKinnon Stakes | Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 2000 m | 57.5 | 2:02.64 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Royal Code |
| Won | 22 Feb 2003 | Expressway Stakes Expressway Stakes The Expressway Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred open horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for Age run over a distance of 1200 metres at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney in February... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1200 m | 57.5 | 1:10.66 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Belle Du Jour |
| Won | 08 Mar 2003 | Apollo Stakes Apollo Stakes The Apollo Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age run over a distance of 1400 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in February... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1400 m | 58 | 1:22.49 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Hoeburg |
| Won | 15 Mar 2003 | Chipping Norton Stakes Chipping Norton Stakes The Chipping Norton Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run at weight for age, over a distance of 1600 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in February or March.-Distance:* 1925 - 1972 held over 10 furlongs The Chipping Norton Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G1 | 1600 m | 58 | 1:37.93 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Shogun Lodge Shogun Lodge Shogun Lodge was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won three Group One races, and had each of his 58 starts in Group races... |
| Won | 05 Apr 2003 | George Ryder Stakes George Ryder Stakes The George Ryder Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for age run over a distance of 1,500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in April... |
Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G1 | 1500 m | 58 | 1:30.71 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Dash for Cash |
| 4th | 19 Apr 2003 | Doncaster Handicap Doncaster Handicap The Doncaster Mile is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. Although the race has traditionally been held on Easter Monday, the race is now run on the third Saturday in April. The race is contested over 1,600 metres . The prizemoney in 2010 was A$1,510,000... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 1600 m | 57.5 | 1:36.85 | D. Beadman | 1st - Grand Armee Grand Armee (horse) Grand Armee was a middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a brown gelding bred by Newhaven Park Stud, New South Wales. Grand Armee was by Hennessy , his dam Tambour won $132,200 and was by Marauding . He was trained by Gai Waterhouse.Grand Armee's biggest win was in the 2003... |
| Won | 03 May 2003 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes The AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at Weight for Age, over a distance of 2,000 metres in April or May at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | 2:04.80 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Pentastic |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Time!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 23 Aug 2003 | Warwick Stakes Warwick Stakes The Warwick Stakes is a Group 2 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age that was traditionally run over a distance of 1400 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in August... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G2 | 1400 m | 58 | 1:24.35 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Clangalang |
| Won | 06 Sep 2003 | Chelmsford Stakes Chelmsford Stakes The Chelmsford Stakes is an Australian Group 2 Thoroughbred horserace run over 1600 metres at Weight for Age at Randwick Racecourse Sydney in September... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1600 m | 58 | 1:35.06 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Platinum Scissors |
| Won | 27 Sep 2003 | George Main Stakes George Main Stakes The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300.... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 1600 m | 58 | 1:37.48 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Grand Armee Grand Armee (horse) Grand Armee was a middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a brown gelding bred by Newhaven Park Stud, New South Wales. Grand Armee was by Hennessy , his dam Tambour won $132,200 and was by Marauding . He was trained by Gai Waterhouse.Grand Armee's biggest win was in the 2003... |
| Won | 11 Oct 2003 | Caulfield Stakes Caulfield Stakes The VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | 2:03.30 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Mummify |
| 3rd | 25 Oct 2003 | Cox Plate Cox Plate The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia... |
Moonee Valley Moonee Valley Racecourse Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club... |
G1 | 2040 m | 58 | 2:07.61 | D. Beadman | 1st - Fields Of Omagh Fields Of Omagh Fields Of Omagh was a champion middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid 2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian , Malcolm and Timeless Grace .Fields Of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter... |
| Won | 07 Feb 2004 | C F Orr Stakes C F Orr Stakes The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1400 m | 58 | 1:21.97 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Vocabulary |
| Won | 21 Feb 2004 | St George Stakes St George Stakes The St George Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged two years old and upwards, over a distance of 1800 metres. It is held at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne every February. Total prize money is A$200,000.-Distance:1900 -... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G2 | 1800 m | 58 | 1:50.98 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Sound Action |
| Won | 08 Mar 2004 | Australian Cup Australian Cup The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March... |
Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | 2:01.67 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Delzao |
| Won | 05 Apr 2004 | George Ryder Stakes George Ryder Stakes The George Ryder Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for age run over a distance of 1,500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in April... |
Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G1 | 1500 m | 58 | 1:27.24 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Grand Armee Grand Armee (horse) Grand Armee was a middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a brown gelding bred by Newhaven Park Stud, New South Wales. Grand Armee was by Hennessy , his dam Tambour won $132,200 and was by Marauding . He was trained by Gai Waterhouse.Grand Armee's biggest win was in the 2003... |
| 2nd | 19 Apr 2004 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes The AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at Weight for Age, over a distance of 2,000 metres in April or May at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | 2:03.26 | D. Beadman | 1st - Grand Armee Grand Armee (horse) Grand Armee was a middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a brown gelding bred by Newhaven Park Stud, New South Wales. Grand Armee was by Hennessy , his dam Tambour won $132,200 and was by Marauding . He was trained by Gai Waterhouse.Grand Armee's biggest win was in the 2003... |
Statistics
In winning 26 of his 35 starts, Lonhro won 13 of his first 18 starts, and 13 of last 17 starts. His longest losing streak was two races, at his fourth and fifth starts, and thereafter he was never defeated in consecutive races. His longest winning streak was eight races, and he had other winning streaks of five races (twice) and four races. He won at least two races in seven of his eight preparations, and four races or more in five of his preparations. His winning strike-rate (74%) is the highest of any Australian championAustralian Champion Racehorse of the Year
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
with a comparable number of starts since the introduction of the award, and is higher than that of four of the five inaugural Hall Of Fame inductees - Phar Lap
Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne...
, Bernborough
Bernborough
Bernborough was an outstanding Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed from 1941 to 1946. He carried heavy weights to victory in a sequence of 15 consecutive wins that included the Doomben 10,000 carrying 10 stone 5 pounds....
, Tulloch
Tulloch
-United States:*Lake Tulloch, California*Tulloch Lake, New Mexico*Tulloch Mountain, California*Tulloch Peak, New Mexico-Transport:*Tulloch railway station, a railway station in the Highland region of Scotland...
, and Kingston Town
Kingston Town
Kingston Town was an outstanding Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won a record three Cox Plates and 11 other Group One races in a career spanning from 1979 to 1982...
- and second only to Carbine
Carbine (horse)
Carbine , was an outstanding New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse, who competed in New Zealand and later Australia. During his racing career he won 30 stakes or principal races...
, who raced more than 100 years earlier. Lonhro's winning strike-rate in Group One races (64%) is the highest of any comparable Australian champion since the introduction of the system, including Kingston Town.
Stud record
Lonhro stood at Woodlands Stud at the beginning of his stud career, his birthplace, and next to his own sire, Octagonal. His initial fee was announced as A$66,000 - a record for local first season stallion, but comparable with first season shuttle horses from the Northern Hemisphere. While there was some discussion over the price Lonhro is arguably the best performed stallion to retire to stud in Australia since Tulloch in the early 1960s. A Lonhro colt from a Royal Academy mare, Palme d'Or, brought NZ$1,050,000 at the 2007 Karaka premier Sale in New Zealand, while Denman, from his second crop, won the Golden Rose at Rosehill in August 2009. Woodlands stud was later bought out by HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Stud. Lonhro was then transferred to Darley's Aberdeen NSW base, where he now stands along side his son, Denman, for a fee of $88,000.With the completion of the 2010-2011 Australian racing season Lonhro was crowned the Leading sire in Australia
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
. He ended the season some $1.2 million clear of his nearest rival Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and is now a champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill out of the lightly raced mare Shantha's Choice...
. It was the first time in 40 years that an Australian Champion Racehourse of the Year (2004) was also named Australian Champion Sire (2011). The last horse to complete the feat was Tulloch
Tulloch (horse)
Tulloch was a Thoroughbred racehorse, who is regarded as one of the three finest racehorses in Australian racing history...
. Lonhro's Group One winning horses to-date are Beaded, Benfica and Denman. Other Stakes winning horses include Euryale, Celts, Parables, Obsequious, Launay, Pinwheel, Tampiko and Dysphonia to name a few. In August 2011 Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
produced her fourth foal, a colt by Lonhro. The colt was the result of a mating between two Australian Champion Racehorses of the Year, Lonhro (2004) and Makybe Diva (2005 & 2006). It is already estimated to be worth between $2-3 million.
Lonhro will shuttle to Darley's stallion farm at Jonabell in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
for the 2012 northern hemisphere breeding season.
Progeny
Lonhro's major race winners include:| Horse | Race | Distance (m) |
Prizemoney (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaded | 2011 Doomben 10,000 Doomben 10,000 The Doomben 10,000 is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1350 metres at Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane in May. The race was originally called the T.M. Ahearn Memorial but was changed to the Doomben 10,000 after the 10,000 pounds prize money on offer. ... |
1350 | $1,508,580 |
| Denman | 2009 Golden Rose Stakes Golden Rose Stakes The Golden Rose Stakes is a STC Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1,400 metres at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney in late August or early September... |
1400 | $1,085,375 |
| Benfica | 2011 T J Smith Classic The T J Smith The T J Smith is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for 2 year olds first run in 1897 as the Claret Stakes. It is run over a distance of 1600 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane in June... |
1600 | $465,400 |
Pedigree
See also
- Australian Champion Racehorse of the YearAustralian Champion Racehorse of the YearThe Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
- Millionaire Racehorses in AustraliaMillionaire racehorses in Australia-Highest 50:Currently out-of-date*Delta Blues has mainly won his prizemoney in Japan. Elegant Fashion has mainly won hers in Hong Kong. Cape of Good Hope has mainly won his prizemoney in the UK and Hong Kong...