Honk Honk

I SPOTTED a mention in a forum just the other day about the pedigree of a very nice race bitch with the funny name, Honk Honk (Bernardo-Larrakeyah Lady by Fernando Bale).

It claimed the bitch’s pattern success relied on her line breeding 3x4x5 to Gable Dodge that great US stud dog who has been noted for the pace he puts into his progeny. He is grandsire of Fernando Bale (damsire of Honk Honk).

All three crosses of Gable Dodge come via SONS … KC And All, Kelsos Fusileer and Gable Lafourche.

Honk Honk’s mother Larrakeyah Lady produced a handy at best litter by Barcia Bale.

So, why has she now got Honk Honk who with a 29.19 victory at Wentworth Park last week has become the fifth fastest ever around that track.

Is it the triple of Gable Dodge, or something else.

Let’s delve into her pedigree and see for ourselves.

Larrakeyah Lady (Fernando Bale-Ema’s Princess by Slater) was a fine city performer, multiple winner at Sandown.

Her dam, Ema’s Princess, was also a multiple Sandown and Meadows winner and also in her litter were fine race dogs Slater Hill and Aeroplane Rex.

The next dam is none other than Charlie Lamb’s superstar, One Tree Hill (Gable Lafourche-Mockingbird Hill by Head Honcho).

Charlie has been looking for one to replace One Tree Hill ever since. She won the G1 Paws of Thunder, G2 Black Top, was 2nd in the G1 Sapphire Crown, G1 Topgun, 3 rd in the G1 Easter Egg and a finalist in the G1 Vic Peters, G1 Paws, G1 Topgun, G3 Ladies Bracelet and G3 Shootout.

Yes, she was something else.

This, of course, is the Hallinan family’s famed Spanish Dance direct female family, still one of the greatest ever.

Bernardo is a sire who puts in fine chase and pace, something he certainly has done with Honk Honk.

His damline has been influential in his success at stud … not so his sireline, even though his sire KC And All is line bred to Dutch Bahama who is saturated with Aussie bloodlines.

As an interesting exercise, let’s “test mate” Bernardo’s dam Surfonic with Slater the sire of Honk Honk’s 2 nd dam. They come into her pedigree 2x3 and powerfully placed to be able to greatly impact with each other.

BOOM!!!!!

Therein lies what “could” be the secret to Honk Honk’s ability.

Surfonic is bred on an identical pattern to Slater. They both carry the hugely in-bred Surf Lorian, balanced via daughter and son. This is the double of Surf Lorian found in Bernardo’s G1 winning son Aussie Secret.

They also bring in a cross of the virtual brothers Murlens Slippy and Fortress … both of them by I’m Slippy and their 2 nd dams are sisters.

But, and even greater strength here is a link between Rainbow High (the dam of the legend Top Honcho the damsire of Fear Zafonic) and Chariot Of Midge (3 rd dam of Slater).

Rainbow High’s sire Double Summit (Waverly Supreme-Zimbabwe) is a virtual brother to Chariot Of Midge who has Waverly Supreme in her sireline and Riviera Tiger in her damline.

Zimbabwe is by Temlee from Zulu Moss. Riviera Tiger is by Temlee from Zulu Moss’s litter sister Riviera Moss (dam of Qld GPTY Gallant Anne).

ALL of these famous ancestors are well placed to be an impact on the ability of Honk Honk.

Yes, you are right. No one can guarantee this is the case.

Remember, Honk Honk is by a fine stud dog from a city winner, from a highly proven damline. That too has great significance.

But, gee that Surfonic and Slater cross is something special and strongly placed to impact … much better than the three crosses of Gable Dodge the pedigree also boasts.