Racing: Top galloper Lonhro makes mark as sire

Lonhro is well on the way to becoming a champion in the breeding barn aided by Beaded's Doomben 10,000 victory. Photo / NZ Herald

A champion on the racetrack, Lonhro is well on the way to becoming a champion in the breeding barn aided by Beaded's Doomben 10,000 victory.

Saturday's group one triumph by the gallant mare has edged her sire closer to High Chaparral in the battle for the Australian sires' title for this season.

With Beaded on target for two more rich wins in Queensland in coming weeks, Lonhro is on target to join Vain as a Horse of the Year winner and champion sire.

High Chaparral's star son So You Think raced in Australia in the spring and is now making his mark in Europe.

Beaded's record stands at 10 wins and 19 placings from 20 starts and a close fourth in the 2010 Stradbroke Handicap which is again one of her goals this year.

"She's got a big heart for a tiny mare," trainer Peter Snowden said after Beaded claimed a group one victory at her sixth attempt.

Lonhro is the sire of 45 stakes winners so far, one being his son group one winner Denman who stands alongside him at Darley Kelvinside.

Benfica will represent Lonhro in the group one TJ Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 11.

Lonhro was one of the team Sheikh Mohammed gained when he bought the Woodlands racing and breeding operation from Bob Ingham.

A son of 1995-96 Horse of the Year Octagonal, Lonhro was honoured as Australia's champion for his feats in the 2003-04 season when he added five group one titles to the six he had won at three and four.

Beaded is now the equal favourite for the A$1 million Stradbroke Handicap on June 11 after which the intention is to race her in the final group one of the season two weeks later, the Winter Stakes for fillies and mares.

High-class sprinter Vain was named Horse of the Year in 1970 and topped the sires' table in 1983.

- AAP