From the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere to the Stratosphere

When it was first announced in 2011 that Champion sire and Champion racehorse, Lonhro, would be shuttling from Australia to America, Sheikh Mohammed’s Bloodstock advisor, John Ferguson, said, “Lonhro is a rare Thoroughbred – a Horse of the Year on the racetrack and then a Champion sire.  He is among the most talented horses to have graced the Australian turf in living memory and will bring to America the soundness and toughness for which Australian horses are known.  As a stallion, his rise has been meteoric.”

While his first foals have yet to race in the Northern Hemisphere, Lonhro’s acceptance by breeders north of the equator has resulted very quickly in high demand exemplified by exceptional, full books in both 2012 and 2013.  His popularity can also be seen in Darley’s recent online auction, “Bid For Glory”, when seasons to Lonhro brought upwards of $44,000, nearly 50% over his 2013 fee of $30,000.

Lonhro entered stud in the Northern Hemisphere in 2011, and of the 102 mares bred to him last year, 65 were Stakes horses or Stakes producers, 49 of those in Graded or Group company. Included among that group were 30 Group or Graded winners with 13 earning victory in G1 events. Manistique’s name could be found among these high-level winners, as well as the likes of Georgie Boy, Flute, Crimson Palace, Danelagh and In The Gold.

Through mid March of 2013, Lonhro is represented by more than 50 foals on the ground from his first crop. Thus far, breeders seem to be more than pleased about their new foals. Find below a few of their comments:

“I couldn't be happier with the foal. She's easily the best foal born on the farm so far this year. She's quite special. I'm very pleased with her. She's got great size to her - a little rock star.”
Martin O’Dowd, Runnymede Farm, Paris

“She is a very nice filly and looks a lot like Lonhro. Our client supports the horse and is breeding the dam of this foal, Foxysox, back to Lonhro in 2013. He’s got everything you want to get, by any stallion.”
Mike Evans, Sheltwowee Farm, Midway

“Very nice-bodied foal. Very strong great hip. Smart head. Just the kind of foal I wanted out of that mare [Girl Gone Crazy]. We’re breeding back to him this year as well.”
Mike Helbrecht, Destiny Oaks Farm

“The foal out of Aquarius Star was very nice. Lots of substance. Very athletic with a great hind quarter. The mare is being bred back to Lonhro again in 2013.”
Becky Thomas, Sequel Stallions

"Good size, a powerfully built colt with a great hip and shoulder, a very good foal".
Bobby Spalding, Darley at Stonerside

As the Champion sire in 2010/11 and the Champion Juvenile sire in 2011/12, Lonhro is the sire of a total of 38 career Stakes winners, including 20 Group/Graded winners. His current tally of G1 winners stands at five and includes the phenomenal Australian Champion two-year-old Pierro in addition to current Darley Australia stallions Denman and Benfica. He is currently the second-leading general sire in Australia for the 2012/2013 racing season with standouts like Pierro and Mental, two colts with G1 wins this past year, leading the way.

Lonhro proved to be one of the best in generations to grace the Australian turf winning 26 of 35 races, including 11 G1 events:

• Australian Cup (G1; click here to watch)
• Caulfield Guineas (G1
• C F Orr S (G1)
• Chipping Norton S (G1)
• George Main S (G1)
• George Ryder S (G1; twice)
• Mackinnon S (G1)
• Queen Elizabeth S (G1
• Yalumba S (G1; twice)

And although he did race only on the turf, John Ferguson addressed this point during his online interview (go here for the complete interview) by stating, “One of the things that one has to realize about Lonhro is that he has great strength. One of the great things about a dirt horse is that he has to have great strength. Now Lonhro raced on the turf because that was all that was open to him. But of the many turf horses I’ve seen, I would suggest that he’s the kind of horse that can adapt just as easily from the turf to the dirt. And when you see him in the breeding shed, you will see what I mean because he has a great physique… Of all the turf horses we use, this is one that I would suggest could adapt very, very well to the dirt and firmly believe that he will.”

We’ll have to wait another year to see just how the progeny of Lonhro take to American dirt racing, but with the strong support from top breeders, combined with a proven track record of racehorse and sire ability, the confidence level is high that his colts and fillies will get their picture taken quite a bit at racetracks throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

For more information, please contact a member of our nomination’s team on (859) 255-8537.