Editing Lonhro (section)

===Four-year-old season: 2002–2003===
Lonhro returned as a 4-year-old in the Missile S-Gr3 (1,100&nbsp;m) at Rosehill. This was the first race where he was ridden by Darren Beadman, and it was his eighth consecutive victory as he won by four lengths. As the short priced favourite, Lonhro was expected to have no problem taking out the Warwick S-Gr2 (1,400&nbsp;m) at his next start but was beaten a half head by Defier. Two weeks later, he won the Chelmsford S-Gr2 (1,600&nbsp;m) at Randwick by three lengths. At his next start, only six horses lined up for the [[George Main Stakes]]-Gr1 (1,600&nbsp;m) but it was described as a mini Cox Plate with [[Sunline]], Defier, Lonhro, Excellerator and Shogun Lodge entered. Lonhro was pocketed on the fence for much of the race and only saw daylight in the last 50&nbsp;m, sprinting home to finish fourth. Sunline set a moderate pace in front from Defier, then Shogun Lodge outside Lonhro with Hey Pronto and Excellerator at the rear.

Lonhro was then sent to Melbourne for a rematch with Sunline in the [[Caulfield Stakes]]-Gr1 (2,000&nbsp;m). A field of seven lined up, but all race discussions were whether Sunline as a 7-year-old would return to form and if Lonhro, having his first start beyond 1,600&nbsp;m, would be as effective over 2,000&nbsp;m.  Sunline assumed her usual front running style, and Lonhro stalked for most of the race in about third position. Little changed up to the 800&nbsp;m where Sunline quickened from Ustinov, and Lonhro started the long chase with Distinctly Secret heading the rest. Around the turn, Sunline raced clear of Ustinov with Lonhro steadily making ground but giving the mare a huge [[Head start (positioning)|head start]]. By the 300&nbsp;m, Sunline was over three lengths clear as Lonhro settled into his task. Inside the final 50&nbsp;m, Sunline and Lonhro were level with the mare fighting back strongly, but her younger rival edged in front to win by a half neck in race record time of 2:00:60.

Both horses then headed to the WS Cox Plate two weeks later where Lonhro started $4 equal favourite with Northerly. Settling last in a field of nine, Lonhro was  beaten, finishing 7.3 lengths behind Northerly. Lonhro backed up a week later in the Mackinnon S-Gr1 (2,000&nbsp;m) at Flemington, edging out Royal Code to finish his 2002 spring campaign on a winning note.

Lonhro resumed in the 2003 autumn winning in the Expressway S-Gr2 (1,200&nbsp;m) by 2 lengths. Three weeks later, he won the Apollo S-Gr2 (1,400&nbsp;m) by 3½ lengths with a further 2 lengths to third. He was back a week later in the [[Chipping Norton Stakes]]-Gr1 (1,600&nbsp;m) at Warwick Farm, coming away to win under hands and heels riding by 1½  lengths from Shogun Lodge. Next on the agenda was the George Ryder S-Gr1 (1,500&nbsp;m) at Rosehill where Lonhro again won easily, this time by a 2-length margin. He was the raging favourite for the [[Doncaster Handicap]]-Gr1 (1,600&nbsp;m) at Randwick, where he carried topweight of 57.5&nbsp;kg. Defier and Shogun Lodge looked to be his main dangers, but then the rain fell and both his rivals were scratched when the track was rated officially slow. Inside the final 200&nbsp;m, [[Grand Armee (horse)|Grand Armee]], carrying 6&nbsp;kg less than Lonhro, hit the front and raced clear to pass the post three lengths ahead of Dash For Cash with two lengths to Boreale, who held out Lonhro for third. This was Lonhro's third and final unplaced run in a race.

Lonhro rounded out his autumn a week later in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes-Gr1 (2,000 m), winning by 1½ lengths.

There was brief speculation that Lonhro might be retired to stud, but it was soon announced that he would return to racing as a 5-year-old with the WS Cox Plate his spring target. Lonhro's part owner Jack Ingham died after a long battle with illness in August 2003 as Lonhro prepared to return to racing.