Ahonoora was a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line,[4] unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian.
[5] Park Express's dam Matcher was bred in Canada by E. P. Taylor and produced several other winners including Myra's Best (Firth of Clyde Stakes) and the successful hurdler Wing and a Prayer.
In the following year she was sold again for 42,000 guineas,[3] this time to John Warren, acting on behalf of the father and son team of Paddy and Seamus Burns of the Lodge Park Stud.
[3] Park Express began her three-year-old season by winning a minor race at Leopardstown, but when moved up in class she finished tenth behind Sonic Lady in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
She showed much improved form to record her first Group race success, winning by one and a half lengths from Mill on the Floss, who had finished ahead of her in the Ribblesdale.
"[9] Later that month, Park Express started the odds-on favourite for the Blandford Stakes at the Curragh, but was beaten half a length by the four-year-old colt Nemain.
She worked promisingly on the dirt course after being prepared for the surface in Ireland by being galloped on sawdust,[10] but was withdrawn after contracting colic shortly before the race and was subsequently retired.
[8] In 1985, the independent Timeform organisation gave Park Express a rating of 111, thirteen pounds below the top-rated two-year-old filly Femme Elite.
[7] She proved to be very successful, producing at least eleven foals and being the ancestor of many good winners: Her later achievements as a broodmare were more remarkable as she began to lose her sight at the age of sixteen.