BARGAIN BRED RACING SERIES & BREEDING CORNER

Lonhro (AUS) (15426)

Lonhro (AUS) is by Octagonal (NZ). His dam sire is Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector) and his dam’s dam sire is First Counsel. On the surface one might think his pedigree is not what one would call blue blood or royal. Do not let that first impression fool you. The Turn-To line through Sir Ivor has flourished in Australia and New Zealand. Sir Tristram (great grandpa) was a very good sire and still is a top dam sire. Zabeel (Grandpa) was a good runner and a very successful stallion and Octagonal (NZ) (dad) was a champion runner and a successful stud.  Even his dam won over two hundred thousand on the track.

He was a monster runner for this day and age running thirty-four times winning twenty-six including eleven grade I victories. He won grade I races from seven furlongs all the way up to ten furlongs. He was a graded winner at two, three, four, and five. In the sim he might produce solid dirt runners. Octagonal (NZ) produces good dirt runners in the sim and since Mr. Prospector will be in the fourth generation of Lonhro’s progeny, inbreeding to Mr. Prospector might produce a few dirt runners.

Lonhro has a jump on most freshman sires because of the breeding season in the southern hemisphere. He is eligible to breed a three year old with so he has a few more runners than most. He does have an allowance winning three-year-old (dam sire Snurge). Among his two-year-olds he only has two winners so far. Lots of very nice dam sires have been used with him like Storm Cat, Forty Niner, Danehill, and Seeking the Gold.

What dam sire lines are going to blend well? I think the Northern Dancer line will be popular in real life with many Danehill mares being sent his way. The Northern Dancer line should blend well. The Roberto line with dam sires like Red Ransom, Kris S., Dynaformer, Lear Fan, and Silver Hawk. I like grandsons of Mr. Prospector to create that 4X4 inbreeding. The Ribot line will blend well like Arts and Letters, Graustark, His Majesty, Tom Rolfe, Hoist the Flag, Key to the Mint, and Pleasant Colony.

Those good but somewhat forgotten or over looked sires like Ela-Mana-Mou, Diesis (GB), and Sea-Bird might be good choices. I do like Raise a Native line sires Affirmed, and Majestic Light. Lots of choices but adding a little stamina might get you that big mile and a half turf runner.   

Lonhro (AUS) (15426) X Affirmed (83) X Sea-Bird (5646)

Lonhro (AUS) (15426) X Kris S (3377) X Northern Dancer (4440)

Lonhro (AUS) (15426) X Danehill (1494) X Seeking the Gold (5687)

Lonhro was a graded winner at two but really he did not come into his own until he was three so those early numbers do not mean much at this point although you would like to see a few more winners. His progeny’s early speed figures seem in line with a later developing type runner. Be sure to throw his runners over to the dirt if you get the chance they just might surprise you.