Guineas Winner King’s Best Dies

[Wandering Eyes]

King’s Best (Kingmambo-Allegretta {GB}, by Lombard {Ger}), winner of the G1 2000 Guineas in 2000, has been euthanized at Darley Japan after suffering complications from colic. The farm had announced just two months ago that the 22-year-old had been pensioned from stud duty.

Harry Sweeney, President of Darley Japan, said, “King’s Best was a great servant to Darley, standing in Ireland, France, Argentina, and Australia before coming to Japan where he retired earlier this year. He will be missed by everyone here at Darley in Japan.”

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Saeed Suhail, King’s Best broke his maiden at first asking at two and added the Listed Acomb S. next out. He checked in last of five in the G1 Dewhurst S. to wrap up that campaign but bounced back the following season to beat Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) by 3 1/2 lengths in the 2000 Guineas. Sadly he would not get a chance to repeat that effort; he was injured and pulled-up next out in the G1 Irish Derby and never raced again.

King’s Best entered stud at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in 2001 and later stood in France for four years at Haras du Logis before three seasons in Japan. His most prolific progeny was the G1 Investec Derby and G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Workforce (GB), while his highest earner was Sajjhaa (GB), the dual Group 1 winner in Dubai. He enjoyed top-level success in Japan as well, supplying the G1 Tokyo Yushun and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn winner Eishin Flash (Jpn). King’s Best has left eight Group 1 winners in total, and those also include Lockinge S. winner Creachadoir (Ire), G1 Irish St Leger victor Royal Diamond (Ire), G1 Sussex S. winner Proclamation (Ire) and G1 Lydia Tesio winner Dubai Surprise (Ire).

King’s Best has also enjoyed global success as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced four Group 1 winners in four countries: G1 Coronation S. winner Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}); G1 Queensland Oaks victress Egg Tart (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}); G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

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