Date posted February 28, 2010 | Posted by David Bay | Filed under
Feature Stallion,
Racing and Breeding(Feb 28th, 2010) Chelmsford Stakes-Gr.2 winner O’Lonhro has been retired and will stand at Neville Murdoch’s Larneuk Stud, Euroa in 2010.
He is the first major son of champion Lonhro (Octagonal (NZ)-Shadea (NZ) by Straight Strike) to go to stud and his purchase by Murdoch is a coup for the Victorian breeding industry.
O'Lonhro
O’Lonhro’s dam is the wonderful race mare Mamzelle Pedrille (Zoffany (USA)), winner of 11 races (1200m-1500m) and more than $580,000 including the Theo Marks Quality-Gr.2, Sandown Stakes-Gr.3, Vo Rogue Stakes-Gr.3 and three Listed events.
Trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes for breeder Ray Gall and the estate of the late G.F. Young and R.J. Hansberry, O’Lonhro won three of his first five starts and was runner-up in the other two, starting with a winning debut in Sydney on February 4, 2009, beating In Touch by 1-1/2 lengths over 1250m in 1:13.64.
He won again next start, beating subsequent AJC Derby winner Roman Emperor, and was sent for a break. He was second, beaten a half-length by talented Swift Alliance over 1200m first up on August 1, 2009 and then stepped up to Group company with a second (three-quarters of a length) behind Trusting in the Warwick Stakes-Gr.2 (1400m), with Mr Baritone third and Gr.1 winners Racing to Win and Court Command next.
O’Lonhro scored his most important victory next start, winning the Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes-Gr.2 (1600m) (a race his sire won in 2002 and 2003) from Miss Marielle and multiple Gr.1 winner Triple Honour, followed home by Court Command, Roman Emperor and Vision and Power. He was fifth in the Shannon Stakes-Gr.2 and eighth in the Epsom Handicap-Gr.1 and was then off the scene until two unplaced runs early this year, being retired after breaking down in the Apollo Stakes-Gr.2 (1400m) on February 20.
Neville Murdoch is delighted to have secured the handsome near-black horse for his Larneuk Stud where he will join Tsigaine (FR) (Anabaa) and Bramshaw (Encosta de Lago half-brother to Danewin and Commands).
“I’ve been following this horse for a long time and was straight on the phone when I saw his uncharacteristic run in the Apollo,” he said.
“I flew up to Sydney to inspect the horse and was really impressed. He’s an outstanding looking individual, very like his sire and he stands 16.2 hands. I’ll set a stud fee in the next couple of weeks and I’m sure the horse will be really well received here.”
Lonhro was Australian Horse of the Year in 2004-05 and won 26 of his 35 starts from age two to five and $5.79m including 11 Gr.1 events. He retired to stud in 2004 (O’Lonhro is from his first crop) and is one of Australia’s best young sires with 104 winners from 177 starters (58.8%) of $7.45m and 10 stakes winners (5.6%), led by brilliant Gr.1 winner Denman (winner of nine of his 11 starts and $1.1m and unbeaten in three runs in Melbourne this year) and also including Deer Valley, Demerit, Black Minx, Trim, Minnesota Shark, Beaded, Custard and Secession.
O’Lonhro’s dam Mamzelle Pedrille has produced five winners and her dam Sister Pedrille (Cardinal-Royal Law by Star Kingdom’s son Royal Artist) produced seven winners including the dam of stakes winner Madam Pedrille. This is also the family of Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 runner-up I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit (IRE)), who will cover his first book of mares at Yarraman Park, Scone, in the new season.
O’Lonhro, a great-grandson of NZ super sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram), is inbred 5mx5m to Raise a Native via sons Mr. Prospector and Exclusive Native and his only line of Northern Dancer comes via Nureyev in his fifth remove.
