Lonhro: The Champion Who Bred Champions – His Final Progeny Hits the Magic Millions Stage Tomorrow

Few horses in Australian racing history have ever combined brilliance on the track with dominance at stud quite like Lonhro. Known affectionately as “the people’s champion,” the near-black stallion became a symbol of excellence, resilience, and class—both as a racehorse and as a sire of champions.

Described in his early days as “tiny, but perfect,” Lonhro quickly matured into a carbon copy of his sire, the great Octagonal, and inherited the mighty blood of his grandsire Zabeel. Wearing the iconic cerise silks of the Ingham family, he was trained by John Hawkes and bred at Woodlands Stud in Denman, NSW. What followed was a career that reshaped Australian racing and left an enduring mark on the sport.

The Making of a Racing Legend

Lonhro’s track career was nothing short of glittering. In 42 starts, he amassed 26 wins, including 11 Group 1 victories, and earned $5,790,510 in prize money during an era of significantly lower purses. His wins read like a roll call of Australian racing’s most prestigious events:

• Caulfield Guineas (2001)

• Yalumba Stakes (2002, 2003)

• Mackinnon Stakes (2002)

• Chipping Norton Stakes (2003)

• George Ryder Stakes (2003, 2004)

• Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2003)

• George Main Stakes (2003)

• CF Orr Stakes (2004)

• Australian Cup (2004)

  
  

Perhaps his most iconic victory came in the 2004 Australian Cup at Flemington. Under champion jockey Darren Beadman, Lonhro overcame adversity—checked badly at the 200-metre mark and forced to switch lanes—before surging down the outside to reel in the younger Delzao in a thrilling finish. The reception was electric, with the racecourse awash in cerise flags and Greg Miles’ stirring race call forever etched in racing folklore.

His extraordinary performances earned him a suite of honours, including:

• Australian Champion Three-Year-Old (2002)

• Australian Middle-Distance Champion (2004)

• Australian Racehorse of the Year (2004)

  
  

Dominance in the Breeding Barn

Retiring in 2004 to Woodlands Stud, and later standing at Darley’s Kelvinside property after the 2008 acquisition by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Lonhro transitioned seamlessly into his next role—one in which he would again set new benchmarks.

Lonhro sired over 1,000 individual winners, including 97 stakes winners and 13 Group 1 champions across Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. His progeny won a staggering 195 black-type races, confirming his status as a Champion Sire.

Pierro: The Crown Jewel

At the top of Lonhro’s progeny stands Pierro, a five-time Group 1 winner and the only horse to claim the Sydney Two-Year-Old Triple Crown (Golden Slipper, Sires’ Produce Stakes, and Champagne Stakes). Like his sire before him, Pierro is now carrying Lonhro’s bloodline into the next generation at stud, further enhancing the dynasty.

Other Notable Progeny

• Lindermann – 2023 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner

• Denman – 2009 Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes

• Mental – 2012 Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic

• Aristia – 2018 Group 1 VRC Oaks

• Kementari – 2018 Group 1 Randwick Guineas

• Lyre – 2019 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes

A Sire of Sires

Lonhro’s impact extended beyond his direct offspring. He became a true sire of sires, with Pierro, Denman, Impending, Encryption, and Exosphere all standing at stud. Each carries forward his genetic legacy, influencing the future of racing and breeding.

As a broodmare sire, Lonhro’s daughters have already produced 101 Group-winning horses, including stars such as:

• Golden Mile (Astern)

• Zapateo (Brazen Beau)

• Osborne Bulls (Street Cry)

• So Si Bon (So You Think)

• Barber (Exceed And Excel)

  
  

Lonhro’s Ongoing Legacy

Lonhro wasn’t just a champion racehorse or an elite stallion—he was an era-defining figure in Australian racing. His versatility, consistency, and class made him a crowd favorite, while his success at stud solidified his place among the greats of the breed.

From the racecourses of Melbourne and Sydney to the paddocks of Darley, Lonhro stood as a paragon of excellence. His bloodlines continue to shape the sport, his victories are etched in the annals of racing history, and his name remains synonymous with greatness.

Tomorrow, Lonhro's final progeny will go under the hammer at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. Lot 1107, the filly by Lonhro and of Five Stars—herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Tyzone—is being offered by Waylon J Stud.