ON this day six years ago, Lonhro, one of the most popular gallopers of the modern era, was at his supreme best in winning the Apollo Stakes at Randwick.

At Rosehill yesterday, his son, the aptly-named O'Lonhro, maintained his unbeaten record and indicated he has inherited plenty of his famous father's ability with a tough win in the Rabbitohs To 8000 Members Handicap (1500m).

O'Lonhro scored his second win in as many starts, making the jump from a midweek maiden to Saturday class look easy. He overcame the heavy track and adapted to be ridden up on the speed.
"There were a lot of negatives against him going into the race but he has come out of it with a lot of pluses,'' top jockey Glyn Schofield said. "He much prefers to be ridden back in the field where he can let down with his acceleration. He has a very good turn of foot.

"But I was worried they might go slow today so that is why I had him up on the pace. He wasn't really comfortable in the wet, either, and he was up against some very promising three-year-olds, but he had a bit on them in terms of ability.

"To be able to come through and win, showing the fight he did under pressure, is a very encouraging sign. He has the making of a very good horse.''

Lonhro was the best weight-for-age performer of his time, taking out 11 Group Is and 26 races in all from 35 starts, earning $5.7million in prizemoney. He was voted Horse of the Year in 2004 and O'Lonhro is a product of the now Darley-based stallion's first crop to race.

O'Lonhro ($5.50) was under siege from the top of the straight but simply refused to surrender the lead, holding off Roman Emperor ($51) to score by a half-neck with Hashasan ($5) a further short-neck away third.

Metal Bender ($2.90favourite) was unsuited by the slow early pace but ran on to finish sixth. John Hawkes, who trained Lonhro, prepares O'Lonhro in partnership with his sons, Michael and Wayne.

He was at Caulfield yesterday for Real Saga's Blue Diamond Stakes bid but part-owner Ray Gall said there was a doubt O'Lonhro would even make it to the start yesterday.

"John was worried about running him all week with the wet track but this morning when it came up dead, the decision was made to run him,'' Gall said.

"Then we had that heavy downpour before the first race and the track was downgraded to heavy; we were thinking about scratching him. I was talking to John about what to do and John indicated O'Lonhro might even go for a spell after this race, so I said `why not let him run'.''

Gall, who also bred O'Lonhro, described the three-year-old as exciting but said the only disappointing aspect was the fact part-owner George Young passed away just before the colt's debut.

"It is sad George isn't here to see O'Lonhro race,'' Gall said. Gall had more reason to celebrate later when his promising mare Madame Pedrille, a close relation to O'Lonhro, won the $100,000 Triscay Stakes.