King's Best

Kings Best (24 January 1997 – 16 April 2019) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes. He was described by his trainer Michael Stoute as the best miler he'd ever trained.

King's Best
Sire	Kingmambo
Grandsire	Mr. Prospector
Dam	Allegretta
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	January 24, 1997[1]
Country	USA
Colour	Bay
Breeder	M3 Elevage
Owner	Saeed Suhail
Trainer	Sir Michael Stoute
Record	6: 3-1-0
Earnings	$318,390
Major wins
2000 Guineas Stakes (2000)
Last updated on 20 April 2019

Background

King's Best was a bay horse bred in Kentucky by M3 Elevage. King's Best's sire, Kingmambo, was a highly successful breeding stallion. His progeny included the British Classic winners Russian Rhythm, Henrythenavigator, Virginia Waters and Rule of Law, as well as major winners in Japan (El Condor Pasa), France (Divine Proportions) and the United States (Lemon Drop Kid).^[2] His dam Allegretta was a very influential broodmare who also produced the Arc-winning Urban Sea, the dam of Sea the Stars and Galileo, Allez Les Trois, the dam of the Prix du Jockey Club winner Anabaa Blue, Turbaine by Trempolino dam of Tertullian by Miswaki and Anzille by Plugged Nickle dam of Anzillero by Law Society.^[3]

Racing career

After winning his maiden race at Newmarket he won, from the front, in York's 1999 Acomb Stakes, a Group 3 race for juveniles. His first start as a three-year-old resulted in a second place to Umitism in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket. Few horses beaten in that race go on to win the 2000 Guineas, so it was a surprise when he claimed the first classic of the season, sprinting past Giant's Causeway from off the pace. Ridden by Kieren Fallon he sprinted to a three-and-a-half length victory.^[4]

King's Best true ability was never satisfactorily determined as injury in his next race, the Irish Derby ended his career prematurely.

Stud career

Standing with Darley Stud, Kings Best sired numerous high-profile winners including Creachadoir, Royal Diamond, Allybar and Eishin Flash, but his most famous son is the Michael Stoute-trained Workforce, who won the Derby by seven lengths in 2010, followed by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.^[5]

King's Best was retired from stud duties in 2019 and was Euthanized on 16 April 2019 after suffering from colic.^[6]

Pedigree

Pedigree of King's Best (USA), bay stallion, 1997^[1]

Sire Kingmambo (USA) 1990	Mr. Prospector (USA) 1970	Raise a Native	Native Dancer
			Raise You
		Gold Digger	Nashua
			Sequence
	Miesque (USA) 1984	Nureyev	Northern Dancer
			Special
		Pasadoble	Prove Out
			Santa Quilla
Dam Allegretta (GB) 1978	Lombard (GER) 1967	Agio	Tantieme
			Aralia
		Promised Lady	Prince Chevalier
			Belle Sauvage
	Anatevka (GER) 1969	Espresso	Acropolis
			Babylon
		Almyra	Birkhahn
			Asterblute (Family: 9-h)[3]

References

1. "FREE 5-Cross Pedigree". Equineline.
2. "Kingmambo Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
3. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Adelaide – Family 9-h". bloodlines.net.
4. "Race Record & Form". Racing Post. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
5. "King's Best – Stud Record – Bloodstock Stallion Book". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2010-12-15.
6. Baxter, David (2019-04-16). "Stoute pays tribute to King's Best following Guineas hero's death aged 22". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2024-10-06.