Affectionately known as the ‘Big O', Octagonal was a horse of exceptional ability and courage.

Biography

TRAINER: John Hawkes

OWNERS: Jack & Bob Ingham

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 28 starts: 14 wins, 7 seconds, 1 third/$5,892,231

Major Wins 

• AJC Sires Produce Stakes
• W S Cox Plate
• Canterbury Guineas
• Rosehill Guineas
• Australian Derby
• Mercedes Classic
• Underwood Stakes
• Australian Cup
• Chipping Norton Stakes

About

Octagonal first came to prominence with a second in the 1995 Golden Slipper Stakes. In the spring of that year, he became the first three-year-old since Red Anchor in 1984 to win the W.S. Cox Plate, beating Mahogany in the shadow of the post. A week later he ran second in the Victoria Derby.

After a brief spell, Octagonal took the 1996 Autumn Carnival by storm, winning four Group 1 races in four weeks – the Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas, Mercedes-Benz Classic and the AJC Australian Derby. This performance earned Octagonal the prestigious award of 1995/96 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year.

The spring of 1996 was a disappointing period for Octagonal with only one win, in Underwood Stakes. In the autumn of 1997 Octagonal returned to his best with a thrilling win in the Australian Cup at Flemington and a second Mercedes-Benz classic in Sydney.

When he was retired soon afterwards, Octagonal had achieved 14 wins and eight placings from 27 starts, amassing a record $5.8 million in prizemoney. He has been retired to Woodlands Stud and is the sire of another champion performer, Lonhro.

Octagonal was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.