In 2001, Lonhro ran in the Missile Stakes as a two year-old when it was run
right at the end of July. He had won the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude earlier
in the year and then finished fourth in the Group I Blue Diamond before being
sent to the paddock.A late foal who would not actually turn three until December, Lonhro was pitched into the deep end by John Hawkes for the Missile and ended up finishing third on a heavy 10 track beaten half a length by Sportsbrat and Air She Goes.
Lonhro went through the remainder of this three year-old season undefeated winning his next five starts culminating with a memorable win in the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas before returning in the autumn to win two more Group races before returning to the paddock.
In 2002, the Missile Stakes was again chosen as his starting point for spring
and this time around Lonhro blitzed them to win by nearly four lengths beating
Group I winners Ancient Song, Notoire and Ha Ha in a canter. After that Missile Stakes win, Lonhro went on to win a further 16 races and retired in 2004 with earnings of $5.7 million.
He has enjoyed a long and successful stud career that has been buoyed in the past two years by the burgeoning sire success of his Golden Slipper winning son Pierro.
Whatever happens in the Missile Stakes today, Kementari and Pierata have it all in front of them this spring as they seek to build on their already impressive records.
The race is at 3.30 pm.
Images Steve Hart
