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24.

 Lonhro to miss Doncaster Handicap

05/03/2002

Star three-year-old LONHRO has been forced to the spelling paddock and will miss the remainder of the lucrative Sydney autumn carnival. 

Trainer John Hawkes said the son of Octagonal has been struggling to shake off the effects of a virus and he was not prepared to take any risks with the colt. "Lonhro has a temperature which needs treatment so he won't be right to race next Saturday," Hawkes said. "He is also out of the Doncaster Handicap."

LONHRO won a barrier trial at Warwick Farm last Friday and was set to run in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes, 1500 metres, at Rosehill on Saturday in preparation for the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap, 1600 metres, at Randwick on Easter Saturday.

Because LONHRO required treatment, the rules of racing state that a horse must be drug free when presented to race, thus forcing him out of Saturday's race. "The horse is fine apart from the temperature. He's not injured or anything like that," Hawkes said. "We may be able to get him ready for the Brisbane (winter) carnival instead."

LONHRO's absence is a double blow for the Hawkes stable who also lost another star three-year-old, Viscount, to injury, and retirement, last month.

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