Hoeberg (Maroof x Petrava)'s Autumn campaign is firmly on track after finishing second in the $150,000 Group 2 Apollo Stakes (WFA) run over 1400 metres at Royal Randwick, Sydney on Saturday. The race was won in impressive style by the 4 year old champion colt Lonhro (Octagonal x Shadea), arguably the best middle distance horse in Australasia at present.

Hoeberg (55.5 kgs) was in the leading quartet throughout, with the 1/3 favourite Lonhro (58.0 kgs) directly behind her. On the final approaches to the straight, jockey Corey Brown switched Hoeberg off the running rails, and racing three wide, she was abreast of the pacemakers in a matter of strides. Inside the final 400 metres, Hoeberg edged ahead, but it was obvious that Lonhro, who had been nursed to the rise under a strong hold, was a slingshot waiting to be propelled. He cruised alongside Hoeberg 250 metres from home as it became evident that the 7 other rivals could not match the pair who had the race to themselves. Jockey Darren Beadman nudged Lonhro for an effort, and the acceleration was immediate and breathtaking; he catapulted clear to win by a fraction over three lengths. Hoeberg was never in danger of relinquishing second place and held a margin of more than two lengths over third placed Carael Boy, a 5 year old 14 times winning gelding. The time for 1400 metres was 1 minute 22.49 seconds, with the final 600 metres run in 34.34 seconds, the fastest sectional time of the day.

Such is the high esteem in which Lonhro is held that the Daily Telegraph carried a pre race headline "Lonhro Not for Sale at Any Price", going on to report "Lonhro, Sydney's latest equine racing machine, is the horse money can't buy. Estimated to be worth $20 million, Lonhro is not for sale at any price............Lonhro is the sort of horse that owners and breeders dream of and Jack and Bob Ingham wouldn't sell him, no matter what the price".

To date Lonhro has recorded 15 victories from 21 starts and amassed nearly $2.5 million in stakes.

Hoeberg, who recently finished a close up third in her penultimate race, the first of this campaign, the Listed Triscay Stakes over 1200 metres in which she carried 61 kgs, will now be aimed at the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic for fillies and mares over 1500 metres on 29 March. Thereafter trainer David Payne's spotlight will focus on the $140,000 Group 2 Queen of the Turf Stakes over the same distance on 12 April and possibly the $2.4 million Group 1 Doncaster Handicap over 1600 metres a week later. 

In her first up preparatory race on Saturday, a three year old fillies handicap over 1300 metres, Sierra Dane (58.5 kgs) produced a storming finish from the rear to finish fourth, beaten two lengths. She was unlucky not to have won as she was impeded close home, being tightened between the second and third placegetters both of whom shifted ground. In addition, she lost her off-hind plate in the running. Understandably, Payne was well satisfied with her effort.