Ahonoora (1975–1989) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1977 to 1979 he ran sixteen times and won seven races. Ahonoora was a sprinter who specialised in races over five and six furlongs, with his most important wins coming in the Stewards's Cup at Goodwood and the Group Two William Hill Sprint Championship (now a Group One race) at York. He is primarily notable for his achievements at stud, where his progeny, including Dr Devious, Park Express and Indian Ridge, made him one of the most significant modern representatives of the Byerley Turk sire line.[1]
| Ahonoora | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Lorenzaccio |
| Grandsire | Klairon |
| Dam | Helen Nichols |
| Damsire | Martial |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1975 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Wyld Court Stud |
| Owner | Essa Alkhalifa |
| Trainer | Brian Swift Frankie Durr |
| Record | 16:7-7-0 |
| Earnings | £86,587 |
| Major wins | |
| Stewards's Cup (1978) King George Stakes (1979) William Hill Sprint Championship (1979) | |
Background edit
Ahonoora was bred in England by the Wyld Court Stud near the village of Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire[2] and sold as a yearling for 7,600 guineas to Essa Alkhalifa.
His sire, Lorenzaccio was a high-class racehorse who won the July Stakes and the Prix Jean Prat in his early career, but was principally famous for his defeat of the Triple Crown winner Nijinsky as a five-year-old in the 1970 Champion Stakes.[3]
Racing career edit
Ahonoora was sent into training with Brian Swift at Loretta Lodge, Epsom. As a three-year-old, Ahonoora recorded his first major win when he took the Strewards' Cup as a 50/1 outsider.
As a four-year-old, Ahonoora moved to the Fitzroy stable of Frankie Durr at Newmarket, Suffolk[4] and made a successful transition from handicaps to Conditions races. In spring he finished second to Double Form in the Temple Stakes at Sandown and in June he was second again to the same horse in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. He returned to Goodwood to win the Group Three King George Stakes in July. In August he recorded his most important success when he was awarded the William Hill Sprint Championship at York on the disqualification of Thatching. In September he finished second to Double Form for the third time in the Vernons Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Stud career edit
Ahonoora was retired to the Irish National Stud in 1980 at a fee of £2,250.[4] He soon exceeded all expectations,[5] and, despite his racing career as a pure sprinter, he proved capable of siring top class performers at a wide range of distances.[6] Ahonoora proved to be one of the most successful and important representatives of the Byerley Turk line in the modern era.[7] His notable winners include:[8]
- Park Appeal (1982)- Cheveley Park Stakes
- Park Express (1983)- Irish Champion Stakes
- Don't Forget Me (1984)- 2000 Guineas
- Indian Ridge (1985)- King's Stand Stakes, leading sire[9] of Compton Place, Domedriver, Indian Haven, Namid, Sleeping Indian, Linngari, Ridgewood Pearl and Indian Ink
- Ruby Tiger (1987)- E. P. Taylor Stakes
- Dr Devious (1989)- Epsom Derby, sire of Collier Hill and Kinnaird.
- Inchinor (1990)- sire of Notnowcato and Orientor
He is the damsire of:
- New Approach (2005)- Epsom Derby, sire of Dawn Approach
- Cape Cross (1994)- sire of Sea The Stars, Ouija Board, Golden Horn and Awtaad.
- Azeri (1998)- Breeders' Cup Distaff
- Leroidesanimaux (2000)- sire of Animal Kingdom
- Acclamation (1999) - sire of Dark Angel, Equiano, Marsha and Harbour Watch
In 1989, Ahonoora was bought by the Coolmore Stud. He was shuttled to stand in Australia for the southern hemisphere breeding season. He died after sustaining a broken hind leg in a paddock accident at Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley,[10] Australia on 14 October 1989.[6]
Pedigree edit
| Sire Lorenzaccio (GB) 1965 |
Klairon 1952 |
Clarion III | Djebel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columba | |||
| Kalmia | Kantar | ||
| Sweet Lavender | |||
| Phoenissa 1951 |
The Phoenix | Chateau Bouscaut | |
| Fille de Poete | |||
| Erica Fragrans | Big Game | ||
| Jennydang | |||
| Dam Helen Nichols(GB) 1966 |
Martial 1957 |
Hill Gail | Bull Lea |
| Jane Gail | |||
| Discipliner | Court Martial | ||
| Edvina | |||
| Quaker Girl 1961 |
Whistler | Panorama | |
| Farthing Damages | |||
| Mayflower | Borealis | ||
| Foliage (Family:1-m) |
References edit
- ^ "The Five-Cross Files | Modern Thoroughbred Sire Lines | BloodHorse.com Blog Stable". Cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "Hampstead Norreys History". Hampsteadnorreys.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-11-16. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "Nijinsky beaten". The Age. 19 October 1970. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
- ^ a b "Ahonoora's influence still so prevalent". Thoroughbredinternet.com. 2008-06-08. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "The weird and the wonderful". Thoroughbred Times. 2002-06-01. Archived from the original on 2022-01-08. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ a b "Another Indian Summer". Thoroughbredinternet.com. 2011-06-07. Archived from the original on 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "Nicobar's cup runneth over". Thoroughbredinternet.com. 2011-11-15. Archived from the original on 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "Ahonoora". Reines-de-course.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "New Chef-de-Race: Indian Ridge". Chef-de-race.com. 2003-06-01. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ "Segenhoe Stud". Archived from the original on 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2012-01-12.