Lonhro, former Darley stallion and champion racehorse in Australia, has died at age 25 Godolphin Australia announced April 19.
"A wonderful contributor to the Australian racing and breeding worlds, and as 'the people's champion' Lonhro will be forever remembered for what he was able to achieve on the racetrack," said Godolphin Australia's corporate director Ross Cole.
"Lonhro had a huge and well-earned following, and he earned the admiration and respect of everyone within our Godolphin teams over his years as a Darley stallion and in his retirement. We were honored to have him as part of our operation."
Born at Woodlands Dec. 10, 1998, the striking black colt by Octagonal out of grade 3 winner Shadea was described on his foaling sheet as 'tiny but perfect'.
A glittering 35-start career, the winner of 11 group 1 races, 24 at group level and 26 overall victories, Lonhro won the cream of races in Australia (all G1): 2001 Caulfield Guineas, Yalumba Stakes (twice, 2002-03), 2002 Mackinnon Stakes, 2003 Chipping Norton, George Ryder Stakes (twice, 2003-04), 2003 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 2004 C. F. Orr Stakes, and 2003 George Main Stakes.
Arguably, Lonhro's most stunning race performance came in the 2004 Australian Cup (G1) at Flemington under champion jockey Darren Beadman.
"People still approach me in 2024 to discuss the Australian Cup, it's a testament to how he captured so many people's imagination, which speaks volumes about his career," said Beadman.
"It's a very sad day. It was a shock when Ross (Cole) rang and told me. It brought a tear to my eye. It's a very, very sad day, but we must reflect on what he has achieved. He will be a horse that everyone talks about for generations to come, remembered not just for his victories on the track but also for being the people's horse.
"He was very dynamic in his racing career, his acceleration, and the way he won with superiority and toughness. He oozed class. He was the class with a capital 'C.' From his early days as a 2-year-old right through the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he raced every race giving 110%, every time he went around. That's all you can ask of him.
"For five or six years, those who got to witness his expertise on the track could then see him excel in the breeding barn, being as consistent and influential as he was. He's ticked every box; not many horses have that résumé. I was there at his 21st. It was a special day and that moment we got to spend together will be something I will always remember."
In a period of far less prize money, Lonhro amassed a staggering AU$5,790,510 (US$3,627,727) and was the pin-up horse of Australian racing when he retired to Woodlands Stud in 2004, with Sheikh Mohammed securing the bloodstock operations of Ingham Enterprises in May 2008.
Sire Legacy
A gifted equine athlete, Lonhro exceeded his racetrack exploits while in the breeding barn, none is more qualified to reflect on his breeding career than Darley Australia's head of stallions, Alastair Pulford, who guided the great sire's career in the Darley breeding barn.
"They say that a stallion is the soul of a stud. That certainly applies to Lonhro. He was a horse that lifted your heart," reflected Pulford.
"We took over the management of his career in 2008, when his first crop were just 2-year-olds and he became champion sire (in Australia) in 2011. He has been an incredibly important part of this stud, demonstrated by HH Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin's amazing success with him, campaigning over 51 of his 97 stakes winners.
"He rewarded so many of the people who supported him. His sons and daughters will ensure his name lives on, and his bloodline will remain sought after for generations."
Lonhro's 25-year journey of excellence sees the curtain come down leaving a long legacy in its wake.
Achieving 1,034 individual winners and 97 stakes winners of 195 black-type races, including 13 elite-level winners: Lindermann, Impending, Kementari, Pierro, Lyre, Aristia, Beaded, Bounding, Benfica, Denman, Exosphere, Mental, and The Conglomerate.
Lonhro was crowned champion sire and leading Australian sire of winning 3-year-olds in 2010-11, the top Australian sire of 2-year-olds in 2011-12 and the leading Australian sire of winners in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
His reputation grew and he shuttled to the United States between 2012-14.
A sire of sires—Pierro, Impending, Denman, Encryption, and Exosphere—Lonhro's early influence as a broodmare sire is equally as remarkable, his daughters producing 101 group-winning horses including the likes of Golden Mile, Zapateo, So Si Bon, Osborne Bulls, Barber, Trobriand, and Serene Majesty.
Leading the way of Lonhro's Kentucky-bred runners is Gronkowski, who finished second in the 2018 Belmont Stakes (G1) and second in the 2019 Dubai World Cup (G1). Lonhro's son Isotherm , a two-time graded stakes winner, stands at Swifty Farms in Indiana.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
