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.
Background
Ahonoora was bred in England by the Wyld Court Stud near the village of Hampstead Norreys in Berkshire 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.
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 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. He soon exceeded all expectations, and, despite his racing career as a pure sprinter, he proved capable of siring top class performers at a wide range of distances. Ahonoora proved to be one of the most successful and important representatives of the Byerley Turk line in the modern era. His notable winners include: 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 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, Australia on 14 October 1989.
Sire line tree
AhonooraByerley Turk LineBylerley Turk Jump SiresPortrait: Tourbillon Leysh Nashamaa Cool Edge Don't Forget Me Irish Memory My Memoirs Insatiable Remember Rose Rudy's Pet Wild Eagle Indian Ridge Island Magic Ridgewood Ben Definite Article Grammarian Greenhope Non So Thesis Vinnie Roe Vintage VinnieWatch Why They Won: Vintage Vinnie Flies To Record-Setting Win In Maryland Hunt CupMasterpiece: Vintage Vinnie sets another record with 18-year-old Davies aboardVintage Vinnie wins the Maryland Hunt Cup by 112 1/2 lengths, breaking the track record by three seconds Noah And The ArkNoah And The Ark Sails Clear in Grand National Supreme Rabbit Lochbuie Black Jack Blues The Real Article Definitely Red Pingshou Kierkegaard Compton Place Boogie Street Borderlescott Intrepid Jack Godfrey Street Prolific Deacon Blues Fortune Knight Pearl SecretBloodhorse: Pearl Secret Handsome Ridge Indian Rocket Captain ChopBloodhorse: Captain Chop Namid Blue Dakota Resplendent Glory Morgan Drive Total Gallery Luna Ridge Nicobar Dunaden DomedriverAmerican Classic Pedigree: Domedriver Domeside High Pitched Indian Creek Munir Mariol Sights On Gold Indian Haven Asram Beachfire Imperial Stride Relaxed Gesture Sleeping Indian Snow Ridge Tahreeb Linngari Sunday's Brunch Daytona Luck MoneyToward a Single Bloodline in Stallions Patkai Libano Rayeni Rosendhal Project Manager Statoblest I Cried For You Armanasco Topanoora Additional Risk Sbarlusc Ball Park Dr Devious Collier Hill Day Walker Idris Inchinor Summonor Umistim Bannister Beauchamp Pilot Cape of Good Hope Orientor On The Acorn Notnowcato Custom Cut Fast Or Free Long Dog Redkirk Warrior Satchem Yasoodd Visto Si Stampi
Pedigree
References