Lonhro

Brown horse (1998 - ), Octagonal - Shadea - Inducted in 2014

A favourite with racegoers throughout the country, the John Hawkes-trained Lonhro won 26 races ranging in distance from 1100 to 2000 metres – including 11 at Group 1 level.

Biography

TRAINER:- Trainer J Hawkes

OWNERS: - Woodlands Stud Syndicate

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 35 starts: 26 wins, 5 placings 

 

Major Wins

  • Caulfield Guineas; 2001
  • LKS MacKinnon Stakes; 2002
  • Chipping Norton Stakes; 2003
  • Queen Elizabeth Stakes; 2003
  • George Main Stakes; 2003
  • Caulfield Stakes; 2002, 2003
  • George Ryder Stakes; 2003,2004
  • C F Orr Stakes; 2004
  •  Australian Cup; 2004

About

From an early age Lonhro showed signs of following in the footsteps of his famous father, Octagonal – a 2012 Hall of Fame inductee. As a two-year-old, a first and second placing in Sydney were followed by a commanding win in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield. Starting favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes, he pulled up shin-sore after finishing fourth. Mindful of this condition, and not wishing to subject an immature horse to the rigours of a Golden Slipper campaign, his connections decided to spell him until the following spring.

His three-year-old season was particularly notable for a brilliant win in the 2001 Caulfield Guineas when he came from last at the top of the straight to win by 1 ¼ lengths. In the spring of 2002 came one of his greatest performances when he defeated the champion Sunline by a long neck after a titanic struggle in the Caulfield Stakes. In Sydney he registered outstanding wins in the Group 1 Ryder Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. At the end of his four-year-old season Lonhro had won 18 of 25 starts with six Group 1s.

In his last season, Lonhro added a further four Group 1s to his tally, including a dazzling win in the Australian Cup. His retirement appearance at Randwick in April 2004 evoked an outpouring of popular emotion.