Jonker Turf Monthly November 2022

JONKER

LOCAL BLOODLINES TO THE FORE

Jonker is another of the Aquis Park Freshman sires for 2022. He represents an interesting diversion from many of those we have looked at, and some incredible bloodlines that have become highly valued in Australia. Unlike many of our Freshmen, Jonker breaks one of the unwritten laws of the modern thoroughbred stallion, in that he had 30 race starts, considered too many for a stallion by many breeders. Perhaps our look at history suggests that this has been a relatively new rule as many of our star stallions of the past were required to prove themselves on the track before going to stud. It seems an odd reflection on the past that it was once considered a sign of weakness if a stallion was retired too early. It is certainly not a criticism that we can level at Jonker, and hopefully he can produce sound types like himself which would go some way towards improving the hardiness of our local breed.

The stallion started his career as an early 2yo on 3 December 2017 winning the Listed Max Lees Stakes at Newcastle. He then dominated the Wyong Magic Millions, winning by over four lengths and earning his trip to the Gold Coast for the main event. Jonker found the step up to the 1200m and the rise in class too much for him, and he went for a well-earned break following a disappointing run in the Magic Millions. Returning as a 3yo, Jonker struck a wet track which he never liked in the San Domenico finishing fourth. A good third in the Run To The Roses followed before he was sent for another spell after finishing fourth on a heavy track in the Roman Consul. Jonker returned in the Autumn with a good third in the Fireball before failing again on a heav y track in the Darby Munro. He beat all but the star Classique Legend in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stud Stakes at Randwick before heading to Brisbane to run a good third behind I Am Excited and Redzel in the Group 2 Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm. Jonker returned to have ten starts as a 4yo but was placed only once in the Listed Ramornie at Grafton behind Signore Fox. A change in stable to Tony Gollan in Brisbane reinvigorated the 5yo, and he started off his campaign by winning the Listed Keith Noud Stakes at Doomben. A narrow second in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes saw him head to the Gold Coast to win the million-dollar Magic Millions Sprint. Another let up saw him return to run third in the Group 1 Galaxy behind Eduardo at Rosehill before he went for another short spell. Back in Brisbane he was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup behind Vega One. Jonker then was taken to Melbourne for the Spring where he ran seventh in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis. A trip to Sydney again saw him a little disappointing in running sixth in the Premiere Stakes behind Masked Crusader. Returning to Melbourne, Jonker stepped up for his greatest moment by winning the Group 1 Manikato at Moonee Valley beating Bella Nipotina and Ingratiating. He returned in the Autumn to finish well beaten in both the Oakleigh Plate and William Reid before retiring to stud.

Jonker is a son of Spirit Of Boom, the wonderful Queensland stallion who seems somewhat underappreciated in the south. Nonetheless, Spirit Of Boom by Sequalo has sired almost twenty stakes winners although the majority of these are at Listed level. Only Jonker, Spirit Of Boom and Boomsara have won at Group level in Australia, with Jonker being the only Group 1 winner. Spirit of Boom is a fixture among the top 20 stallions Australia wide and among the highest in respect of winners. Notably, the Eureka bred stallion sees a son of Danehill in his female line through the sub-fertile Special Dane and the old stalwart Semipalatinsk as his grand damsire. The dam of Jonker is Hearts and Arrows by Kempinsky, another son of Danehill. She had won her first two starts at Cranbourne before failing in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes at Morphettville and retiring shortly after. She was a halfsister to the Group 3 winning Fair Trade by Danewin and Fiscal Fantasy by Skilled. Their dam was Villa Igea by the underrated sire Papal Power, a US bred stallion by Miswaki. She was a half-sister to Catecombe who was the dam of Impaler by Dracula who won 11 races including the Group 2 Hobartville and Challenge Stakes. In turn, their dam was Wycombe by Imposing who was a daughter of Cotehele House, the dam of Danewin and Commands. She was herself out of the great mare Eight Carat

making her a half sister to the likes of Octagonal, Mouawad and Kapstaad. No doubt the presence of these great horses will feature in his future at stud.

One of the great strengths of Jonker as a stud prospect is likely his sire line which offers the wonderful line that traces to the legendary Hyperion who has such an impact here through Star Kingdom in particular. The other key feature as mentioned is likely to be his female line which has produced top stallions like Danewin and Commands in recent times. It is interesting to reflect where we put Octagonal in this mix as he was an outstanding racehorse, but overall something of a disappointment at stud outside of his champion son, Lonhro. We would suspect though that introducing lines of all of these influences, including Hyperion may well be important to the stallion’s future at stud. As we often often see, the multiple lines of Danehill become an issue of how these can be utilised. Danehill appears twice in the pedigree of Jonker through his sons Special Dane and Kempinsky. Kempinsky may be especially significant as we see that he hails from the same female line as Jonker with Diamond Lover and Cotehele House being half-sisters. It is also of note that we see Sir Tristram in the pedigree of Kempinsky who was the sire of Octagonal. Danehill appears in both the female line of Spirit Of Boom, and through the sire line of Jonker’s dam. This means that we do not see the stallion in the top and bottom quarters of the pedigree which might make the prospect of duplicating Danehill more appealing by introducing him through the sire line of a stallion. Again, it would seem to be more prudent to push the Danehill influence as far back in a pedigree as we can, with sons of Danehill like Lion Hunter, one of Queensland’s more recent champion stallions likely to present some issues.

In practical terms, where does that place us when looking at what mares may suit the stallion? The presence of Semipalatinsk in his pedigree indicates that there is some stamina in his bloodlines that is not always apparent in the progeny of Spirit Of Boom, who like his sire Sequalo is often considered a source of speed. Perhaps this will be a good balance for some of the speedier mares that breeders in Queensland in particular have in large numbers. This is not to suggest that Jonker

is likely to throw classic types, just that perhaps he offers less of a risk of breeding to additional speed lines. We have mentioned the importance of Eight Carat in the tail line of Jonker, and this offers appeal to breeders. No doubt mares by those stallions we have mentioned will have appeal with Jonker, with Lonhro looking like he could be the standout. We can only hope that some breeders will find daughters of that stallion to send to Jonker, and it is almost certain that the backing of Aquis will assist in sourcing at least some of these mares. Lonhro’s son Pierro offers another interesting mating in that his daughters will bring in a sex-balanced cross of Miswaki, a son of Mr Prospector whose influence is probably underestimated in Australia. Miswaki was the sire of Japan Cup winner, Marvelous Crown, top Australian stallion, Umatilla and of course Arc de Triomphe winning mare, Urban Sea who went on to produce Galileo and Sea The Stars. This presence of Miswaki might be a real plus for Jonker and Galileo could be a key. This son of Sadler’s Wells will introduce stamina into matings and we could see some from these types of mares extend out to a mile. The challenge is standing this stallion in Queensland when access to this type of mare is far more prevalent in the Southern States. This will represent a real challenge for the stud who must entice a different quality of mare than is readily available in the local population to the stallion.

When we look at some of the Queensland based stallions, there are good options for Jonker. Better Than Ready is one, although we have mentioned something of a risk in terms of a lack of stamina in some of the locals. Some of the daughters of Better Than Ready may well be examples of this. Court Command was a stallion who stood locally and, as a son of Commands, has plenty to offer even if few of his daughters remain active breeders. Drumbeats, Tycoon Ruler, Falvelon, Golden Archer, Jabali, Red Element and Red Dazzler are among a host of locals that could suit the stallion through their daughters. This type of mare may well prove to be the make or break of the stallion under local conditions and the fact that there are so many locally bred stallions that look suited is a positive sign.

Real Saga and Show A Heart were stalwarts at Glenlogan for many years and have attraction with Jonker. These could probably be considered among the sires of the more commercial of the locally bred mares. These will be readily available and may well be important to the future of Jonker. In the case of Real Saga we see a duplication of Semipalatinsk which may appeal to the local market. Show A Heart was perhaps the most important local stallion of his era, and his daughters could easily be a key to Jonker. Importantly Show A Heart daughters will bring in a sexbalanced cross of Bletchingly and, as one of the few remaining Star Kingdom line stallions, offers a real opportunity for lovers of that line. The class of the stallion may also see these take the step up from Queensland racing to that in the southern capitals.

We should make special mention of some of the stallions standing at Aquis Park, although many are only seeing some of their oldest daughters now entering stud. Spill The Beans who, as a grandson of Redoute’s Choice, brings in a line of Bletchingly and is one of those former Aquis stallions whose daughters may well suit Jonker. His progeny certainly outperformed the opportunity that the stallion got and hopefully his daughters can ensure the newcomer to Aquis can match his predecessor. Duporth is another of the Aquis stallions who brings in a line of Bletchingly and there are quite a few of his daughters at stud. Perhaps the

most exciting long-term option is Pierata whose oldest progeny are now yearlings. As a son of Pierro, he will offer some interesting bloodlines for those breeders who are patient.

Jonker is an exciting prospect, but his biggest challenge will be outside of the breeding barn most likely. He has a number of factors against him in terms of market perception that might limit his opportunity. We can never stress enough the importance of simple factors like mare numbers in the success or failure of a stallion. There is probably little doubt that Jonker will produce good bread and butter performers in the local market, and these alone will hopefully ensure a good future. But the real success would lie in the stallion producing youngsters that can make it to the top outside of Queensland. Jonker offers a pedigree and performance that could see him take the step to that next level, but it will be a hard road in attracting the types of mares that would make this a reality. Nevertheless, Jonker is going to make an impression on the local bloodstock, and hopefully showcase the strengths of the colonial lines to the broader racing population.

Jonker at 4.69% is a type of mating that we do not see very often in the modern pedigree, especially when Danehill is present. The only duplication within six generations is that of Danehill who appears through his sons Special Dane and line of Danehill, perhaps breeders should look closely as to the type of son that they are bringing in.