Ahonoora

Ahonoora (1975–1989) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1977 to 1979 he ran twenty 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]

Background

The entrance to Wyld Court Stud, where Ahonoora was foaled.

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

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

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]
• Ruby Tiger (1987)- E. P. Taylor Stakes
• Dr Devious (1989)- Epsom Derby
• Inchinor (1990)- sire of Notnowcato

He is the damsire of:

• New Approach (2005)- Epsom Derby
• Cape Cross (1994)- sire of Sea The Stars and Ouija Board
• Azeri (1998)- Breeders' Cup Distaff
• Leroidesanimaux (2000)- sire of Animal Kingdom

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 upper Hunter Region,^[10] Australia in September 1989.^[6]

Pedigree

References