Godolphin announce death of champion Lonhro
Godolphin have announced the death of their champion racehorse and stallion Lonhro (Octagonal) at the age of 25.
Having been pensioned at Darley’s Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley just last year, Godolphin confirmed on Friday afternoon that the son of Octagonal (Zabeel) had died on that property.
“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,” Godolphin Australia’s corporate director Ross Cole said in a statement released on Friday.
“We were honoured to have him as part of our operation.”
Lonhro sired 13 individual Group 1 winners throughout his 19 years at stud, including current Coolmore stallion Pierro, and sits just three short of a century of individual stakes winners from a total of 1,460 runners, with 58 of those coming at Group level.
Bred by Jack and Bob Ingham’s Woodlands stud, where he began his stallion duties before being acquired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2008, Lonhro was a fan favourite for both racing and breeding fans.
From his haul of 11 Group 1 victories on the track, Lonhro was most famous for his determined Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) win in 2004, with racecaller Greg Miles calling, “He’s in desperate trouble, the champ,” before he lifted under regular partner Darren Beadman to defeat three-year-old Delzao (Encosta De Lago) in the final strides.
Beadman, who is now assistant to Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings, led the tributes on Friday: “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.
“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.
“From his early days as a two-year-old right through [to] the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he raced every race giving 110 per cent, 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 resume.
“I was there at his 21st [birthday]. It was a special day and that moment we got to spend together will be something I will always remember.
“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.”
Moving to the breeding shed in 2004, Lonhro became champion sire in the 2010-2011 season, while he also shuttled to Darley’s Jonabell Farm between 2012 and 2014.
His broodmares are now leaving a lasting legacy on the Australian Stud Book with his mares producing 64 individual stakes winners to date in Australian and New Zealand, headed by Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Gatting (Hard Spun), Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) scorer Golden Mile (Astern), and last month’s The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) heroine Zapateo (Brazen Beau).
During his exceptional 19 seasons at stud, Lonhro covered 2,231 mares, beginning his stallion career at a fee of $60,000 and rising to a high of $110,000 in 2012. He stood for $55,000 in his final year.
“They say that a stallion is the soul of a stud. That certainly applies to Lonhro. He was a horse that lifted your heart,” Darley Australia’s head of stallions, Alastair Pulford, said.
“We took over the management of his career in 2008, when his first crop were just two-year-olds and he became champion sire 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.”