Lonhro progeny dashing away for good cause in FNQ

By Andrew Smith

While he did not reach the same levels of his famous father, it is away from the racetrack in Far North Queensland where Dash of Black is having his greatest impact.

The retired thoroughbred is the progeny of eleven-time Group 1 winner and Australian Racing Hall of Fame member Lonhro, who was sired by another champion galloper in Octagonal.

Despite the strong lineage, Dash of Black did not enjoy the same success throughout a 41-start career that saw him notch three wins and nine placings across several North Queensland tracks.

Retired in late 2016, “Dash” then stayed in the region and landed in the care of local horsewoman Claire Denzin in March 2018.

“He's descended from some pretty good racehorses and studs, but he clearly took after his mum (Dash For Gretna) or a weird uncle,” Denzin said with a laugh.

“I think his total winnings was about $35,000 and that includes one race which was a $10,000 win, so his return on investment was pretty low.

“I got Dash off someone else after he had been retired for a while so he had actually had a decent let-down period of just being a horse in a paddock for a period of time.”

Based in Mareeba, Denzin welcomed Dash as the first ever thoroughbred in her care, one of three she now has on her property.

Admitting she did not know much about horses, Denzin quickly became accustomed to the now 17-year-old gelding’s relaxed nature.

“I met Dash, and thought he had a kind eye and seemed like a nice horse,” Denzin said.

“I then spent two-and-a-half years with everyone saying ‘that horse is going to kill you,’ and I thought no, you just have to learn how to ride him properly.

“I certainly described Dash as hot, but he always had a kindness, and it was just that we weren't speaking the same language because I didn't understand.

“And then I met a trainer who is actually now one of the Queensland Off-The-Track Acknowledged Retrainers - she was my showjumping coach and that helped a lot.”

That trainer is Rebecca Henry, who was crowned the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year at the 2023 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

The Mount Garnet-based Henry is also a QOTT Approved Coach for the Subsidised Lessons Program, through which Denzin developed her skills.

She said Henry’s tutelage had been invaluable in helping her develop her relationship with Dash.

“I met Rebecca through going to a clinic, which happened to be at her property, and she said ‘yeah, I'll coach you, but you need to take on my advice, and learn how to ride a thoroughbred’,” Denzin recalled.

“People had said they're just born to race and Rebecca taught me that they're intelligent and they're sensitive.

“It’s so awesome that we have a coach who's in our region who is extremely experienced and does everything from having thoroughbreds on her property to horsemanship, showjumping, everything.

“She really understands thoroughbreds and what they can do, and has a real passion for them.

“Rebecca is also understanding of who these horses are and someone who really gets it - she's not trying to turn them into anything they're not.

“It's about building understanding of who the horses are as individuals, as well their traits from their breeding, and building that real connection between horse and rider.”

Denzin now refers to Dash as her “Mr Reliable,” with the pair chasing cows, competing in dressage and showjumping, and trail riding.

The duo are also regular fixtures at the annual NuNu Melbourne Cup beach race and luncheon at Palm Cove in the Far North.

The iconic event helps raise money for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, with the 2025 Calcutta auction adding $12,000 to the overall $200,000 total.

In one of the images of the day, Denzin was photographed celebrating her friend and fellow Subsidised Lessons Program participant Naomi Hogan crossing the line first on fellow off-the-track thoroughbred I’m Not Sure.

It was an extra special run for the 13-year-old gelding who had been forced to take a break from showjumping early last year.

“He came up lame at a competition early last year, so Naomi retired him, and then spent all year trying to figure out what was going on,” Denzin explained.

“He had actually spent all year getting fat in a paddock, and he was actually just coming back into work before that.

“So she'd been so worried all year, and then to have him feeling good and absolutely dominate that race…I was so stoked for her, and so stoked for him.

“He was prancing around like he just won the Melbourne Cup!

“Last year was my fifth year being involved in the event and we’re increasing every year, and constantly looking at ways to maximize the amount of money that can be raised and what the horses can contribute as well.”

Click here for more information on the Subsidised Lessons Program.