THE best indication of just how Lonhro has far exceeded any prediction about his future as a stallion is provided by the normally optimistic Henry Plumptre, reports The Age. It says: Just 18 months ago, Darley Australia's general manager dared to forecast that the colonial-bred stallion would soon out-do the entrenched breeding barn stars such as Redoute's Choice and Encosta de Lago. But even Plumptre did not envisage such a dramatic transformation to the breeding landscape could happen so quick

THE best indication of just how Lonhro has far exceeded any prediction about his future as a stallion is provided by the normally optimistic Henry Plumptre, reports The Age.

It says: Just 18 months ago, Darley Australia's general manager dared to forecast that the colonial-bred stallion would soon out-do the entrenched breeding barn stars such as Redoute's Choice and Encosta de Lago. But even Plumptre did not envisage such a dramatic transformation to the breeding landscape could happen so quickly.
Plumptre named the year 2013 as being the time when Lonhro would be best placed to challenge for the title of Australasia's leading sire, but with just two months of the 2010-11 season remaining, the 11-time group 1 winner is already just a feature race win away from claiming the mantle.

Tomorrow, Lonhro's outstanding daughter Beaded races for the first prize cheque of $416,000 in the group 1 Doomben 10,000. If she wins, Lonhro's earnings as a stallion would fall less than $100,000 short of current leader High Chaparral, the sire of dual Cox Plate winner So You Think.

But the rise of Lonhro as a stallion is not simply a bonus for Darley Australia. Although untried as a stallion at the time of the sale in 2008 to Sheikh Mohammed's racing operation, Lonhro was the glittering jewel in the Woodlands Stud crown when Darley bought out the Ingham family-owned racing operation for about $500 million.

''When Darley bought the Inghams out, 38 per cent of the bloodstock were in some way tied in with Lonhro, whether mares in foal, foals, yearlings,'' Plumptre said. ''We had a lot of eggs in one basket. Thankfully, it's paid off.''