Australian champion Lonhro has died. He was 25 years old at the time of his passing.Trained by John Hawkes for the Woodlands Racing Syndicate, Lonhro captured the hearts of the nation with his stunning looks and outstanding ability, which saw him win 11 Group 1s and engage in some memorable battles in the early 2000s. 
Known as ‘the black flash’, Lonhro’s finest hour came in the 2004 Australian Cup when he was repeatedly denied racing room but still managed to defeat Delzao by a head with a startling late surge. His lifetime earnings reached AUS$5,790,510 (£2,987,990).
In an exceptional career against a golden age of Australian talent, he also won the Orr Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Chipping Norton, as well as the Caulfield Stakes and George Ryder twice.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 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.”
Lonhro’s 25-year journey of excellence sees the curtain come down leaving a long legacy in its wake.
Achieving 1,000-plus individual winners (1,040) for 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.