Indian Ridge (IRE)
March 22, 1985 – October 17, 2006
Ahonoora (GB) x Hillbrow (GB), by Swing Easy (USA)
Family 3-e
March 22, 1985 – October 17, 2006
Ahonoora (GB) x Hillbrow (GB), by Swing Easy (USA)
Family 3-e
A good but not quite top-drawer sprinter in England, Indian Ridge emulated his sire, Ahonoora, in becoming a far more successful stallion than racehorse. Aside from his accomplishment of keeping the sire line of the Byerley Turk alive for another generation, he made his mark on American racing by begetting Breeders’ Cup Mile winners Domedriver (2002) and Ridgewood Pearl (1995) as well as the dam of 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) winner Wilko.
Race record
11 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$202,939 (converted from European earnings)
1988:
1989:
Assessments
Rated at 93 pounds by Timeform as a juvenile, 34 pounds less than the highest-rated European 2-year-old, Warning.
Rated at 122 pounds in the Sprint category (5-6.5 furlongs) on the International Free Handicap for European older horses of 1989, 2 pounds below highweighted Cadeaux Genereux.
As an individual
A lengthy, short-cannoned chestnut horse with strong muscling extending into his forearms and gaskins, Indian Ridge had the long, sloping pelvis typical of sprinters. He had an elegant head and neck and had power without appearing coarse. He appeared slightly short-legged for his height. He typically preferred to control the pace from the front end but was game and tenacious when hooked.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Indian Ridge with siring 534 winners (54.8%) and 84 stakes winners (8.6%) from 974 named foals of racing age. Indian Ridge is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per the Jockey Club of Turkey (https://www.tjk.org/EN/YarisSever/YarisSever/Index):
Notable progeny
Compton Place (GB), Daytona (IRE), Definite Article (GB), Domedriver (IRE), Indian Haven (GB), Indian Ink (IRE), Linngari (IRE), Namid (GB), Relaxed Gesture (IRE), Ridgewood Pearl (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Airwave (GB), Dancing Rain (IRE), Excelebration (IRE), Halfway to Heaven (IRE), Jwala (GB), Kingsgate Native (IRE), Nahoodh (IRE), Nightime (IRE), Reel Buddy (USA), Wilko (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Broadfield Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, Indian Ridge was bred by William and Averil Whitehead. Sold at auction for 12,000 guineas, he was owned by Mrs. Anne Coughlan and was trained by David Elsworth. He entered stud in 1990 at Campbell Stud, Suffolk, England. In March 1993, he was purchased by the Irish National Stud, County Kildare, Ireland. Indian Ridge died of an apparent heart attack on October 17, 2006.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1986 Irish champion sire Ahonoora (a multiple Group stakes winner over sprint distances), Indian Ridge is inbred 4x4 to the good broodmare Discipliner. He is a half brother to Lady Ellen (by Horage), dam of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Miss Beabea (by Catrail) and second dam of 2006 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Miss Beatrix (by Danehill Dancer).
Indian Ridge was produced from the winner Hillbrow, whose sire, the American-bred Swing Easy (by Delta Judge), was a multiple Group 2-winning sprinter in England. Hillbrow is out of the winner Golden City (by 1960 Middle Park Stakes winner Skymaster), whose half sister Marisela (by Sheshoon) was a Group 1-placed stakes winner. Golden City is also a half sister to Wether Fell (by Klairon), second dam of 1995 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Red Bishop (by Silver Hawk) and Grade 2 winner Pennine Ridge (by Cure the Blues).
Golden City and her siblings are out of West Shire, by English and French champion juvenile sire Grey Sovereign and a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Morin and Candy Wine (both by Vilmorin). The next dam in Indian Ridge’s tail-female line, Irish Candy, is by yet another notable source of speed, the top Irish sprinter Ballyogan. The female line traces back to La Fleche, winner of the 1892 One Thousand Guineas, Oaks Stakes, and St. Leger Stakes and an important foundation mare.
Books and media
Footage of Indian Ridge winning the 1989 King’s Stand Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CweUL8r5W3g.
Last updated: November 29, 2025
Race record
11 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$202,939 (converted from European earnings)
1988:
- Won Jersey Stakes (ENG-G3, 7FT, Ascot)
1989:
- Won Duke of York Stakes (ENG-G3, 6FT, York)
- Won King's Stand Stakes (ENG-G2, 5FT, Ascot)
Assessments
Rated at 93 pounds by Timeform as a juvenile, 34 pounds less than the highest-rated European 2-year-old, Warning.
Rated at 122 pounds in the Sprint category (5-6.5 furlongs) on the International Free Handicap for European older horses of 1989, 2 pounds below highweighted Cadeaux Genereux.
As an individual
A lengthy, short-cannoned chestnut horse with strong muscling extending into his forearms and gaskins, Indian Ridge had the long, sloping pelvis typical of sprinters. He had an elegant head and neck and had power without appearing coarse. He appeared slightly short-legged for his height. He typically preferred to control the pace from the front end but was game and tenacious when hooked.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Indian Ridge with siring 534 winners (54.8%) and 84 stakes winners (8.6%) from 974 named foals of racing age. Indian Ridge is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
- 3rd on the English broodmare sire list in 2008 and 2012; 4th in 2011; 6th in 2013; 9th in 2014.
- 6th on the German broodmare sire list in 2011.
- 5th on the Irish broodmare sire list in 2014; 6th in 2011 and 2013; 7th in 2018; 8th in 2008; 9th in 2009.
- 3rd on the Italian broodmare sire list in 2010, 2012, and 2013; 4th in 2016; 5th in 2011; 7th in 2019; 8th in 2015; 9th in 2009.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1995; 3rd in 2001; 4th in 2000 and 2003; 6th in 1999 and 2002; 10th in 2005 and 2016.
Per the Jockey Club of Turkey (https://www.tjk.org/EN/YarisSever/YarisSever/Index):
- 9th on the Turkish broodmare sire list in 2010.
Notable progeny
Compton Place (GB), Daytona (IRE), Definite Article (GB), Domedriver (IRE), Indian Haven (GB), Indian Ink (IRE), Linngari (IRE), Namid (GB), Relaxed Gesture (IRE), Ridgewood Pearl (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Airwave (GB), Dancing Rain (IRE), Excelebration (IRE), Halfway to Heaven (IRE), Jwala (GB), Kingsgate Native (IRE), Nahoodh (IRE), Nightime (IRE), Reel Buddy (USA), Wilko (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Broadfield Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, Indian Ridge was bred by William and Averil Whitehead. Sold at auction for 12,000 guineas, he was owned by Mrs. Anne Coughlan and was trained by David Elsworth. He entered stud in 1990 at Campbell Stud, Suffolk, England. In March 1993, he was purchased by the Irish National Stud, County Kildare, Ireland. Indian Ridge died of an apparent heart attack on October 17, 2006.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1986 Irish champion sire Ahonoora (a multiple Group stakes winner over sprint distances), Indian Ridge is inbred 4x4 to the good broodmare Discipliner. He is a half brother to Lady Ellen (by Horage), dam of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Miss Beabea (by Catrail) and second dam of 2006 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Miss Beatrix (by Danehill Dancer).
Indian Ridge was produced from the winner Hillbrow, whose sire, the American-bred Swing Easy (by Delta Judge), was a multiple Group 2-winning sprinter in England. Hillbrow is out of the winner Golden City (by 1960 Middle Park Stakes winner Skymaster), whose half sister Marisela (by Sheshoon) was a Group 1-placed stakes winner. Golden City is also a half sister to Wether Fell (by Klairon), second dam of 1995 San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Red Bishop (by Silver Hawk) and Grade 2 winner Pennine Ridge (by Cure the Blues).
Golden City and her siblings are out of West Shire, by English and French champion juvenile sire Grey Sovereign and a half sister to juvenile stakes winners Morin and Candy Wine (both by Vilmorin). The next dam in Indian Ridge’s tail-female line, Irish Candy, is by yet another notable source of speed, the top Irish sprinter Ballyogan. The female line traces back to La Fleche, winner of the 1892 One Thousand Guineas, Oaks Stakes, and St. Leger Stakes and an important foundation mare.
Books and media
Footage of Indian Ridge winning the 1989 King’s Stand Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CweUL8r5W3g.
Last updated: November 29, 2025