Australian champion Lonhro, a leading sire for Darley’s Southern Hemisphere operations who also shuttled to the United States for three seasons, has died at the age of 25, his ownership reported on Friday. Lonhro, by Octagonal, was foaled in December 1998, during the Southern Hemisphere season, at Darley’s Woodlands Stud. According to the operation, he was described on his foaling sheet as “tiny but perfect.” The striking black horse went on to win 26 of 35 starts over four seasons of racing, earning more than $3.6 million when calculated in U.S. funds. Australia’s Horse of the Year and champion miler in 2004, he was an 11-time Group 1 winner, including the 2004 Australian Cup, and two editions of the George Ryder Stakes. Lonhro went on to an acclaimed stud career in which he has recorded 97 stakes winners worldwide, to date, and was Australia’s leading sire in 2011. His top runners include champion Pierro, whose five Group 1 wins included the Golden Slipper, Australia’s most prestigious race for juveniles, and the George Ryder, like his sire. Pierro is now a prominent stallion in his own right. Lonhro also sired New Zealand champion Bounding. In the U.S., Lonhro’s top runners included Gronkowski, second in the 2018 Belmont Stakes and 2019 Dubai World Cup; and multiple graded stakes winners Isotherm and Shakimat. “A wonderful contributor to the Australian racing and breeding worlds, and as ‘the people’s champion,’ Lonhro will be forever remembered for what he was able to achieve on the racetrack,” Godolphin Australia’s Ross Cole said in a release. “Lonhro had a huge and well-earned following, and he earnt the admiration and respect of everyone within our Godolphin teams over his years as a Darley stallion and in his retirement. We were honored to have him as part of our operation.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.