$66,000 a pop for Lonhro

[Donny]

Lonhro a $25m stud

By Ray Thomas - Fox


CHAMPION racehorse Lonhro will become a money-making machine when retired to stud later this season.

Lonhro's first-season stallion fee has been set at an Australian record $66,000 a serve.

He will join his famous sire, Octagonal, on Woodlands' stallion roster.

At this stage Lonhro is likely to be mated with 120 mares at owner Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud in September and a quick calculation reveals the horse is due to collect nearly $8 million in stallion fees for only three months' work next spring.

Lonhro could earn nearly $25 million in stallion fees over the next three years before any of his progeny are even tested on the racetrack.

He is due to have his penultimate race start in tomorrow's Group One $400,000 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

The John Hawkes-trained champ is at $1.70 in early TAB Fixed Odds markets ahead of Private Steer at $2.70.

All going well, Lonhro is scheduled to have his final race in the Group One $750,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 17.

In a testimony to John Hawkes training skills, Lonhro still retains his desire to compete, as evidenced by his extraordinary last start win in the Australian Cup.

Lonhro starts in his penultimate race at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow when he lines up in the Group One $400,000 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

With 25 wins from 33 starts Lonhro has already earned $5.36m prizemoney but his real earning potential is obviously at stud.

If ever there is a sure-fire winner at stud, it is Lonhro, according to Woodland Stud's Trevor Lobb.

"There has not been a horse that has gone to stud in Australia that I can remember who has Lonhro's pedigree, physique and racetrack performance," Lobb said. "He is everything you want in a stallion."

There is even a chance, albeit remote, that Lonhro could stand overseas at a northern hemisphere stud – thus doubling his yearly earning capacity.

"I doubt that will happen, we haven't had any expressions of interest from overseas," Lobb said.

"Plus I think Bob (Ingham) is happy to have the horse stay here at Woodlands."

Lobb said Lonhro won't be subject to fertility tests until he's retired.

"With his libido, I don't think there will be any problems," Lobb said.

Lobb said there was little doubt Lonhro will serve at least his quota of 120 mares next spring.

"We will send about 40 mares of our own to him and about 80 outside mares," he said.

"For six months we have been fielding inquiries about Lonhro at stud. We will have to turn some breeders away."

Although there is sadness about Lonhro's pending retirement from stud, there is also great expectation about the stallion's new career at stud.

"As far as we are concerned at Woodlands, we can't wait for his first crop to be born," Lobb said.