7 WINS - 48 HOURS: The King Reigns Again

Winning fifty percent of his starts, King’s English (4 h Snitzel – English, by Encosta de Lago) resumed with a smart performance in the $18,500 Placemakers Rating 75 1000 metres on 9 October at Taupo. 

An impressive winner in May at Ellerslie, before spelling, King’s English sustained a strong gallop to win when trialling on 24 September at Avondale, had placed in both course attempts, and looked well positioned to claim another victory.

With Opie Bosson ONZM aboard, King’s English tracked two on the speed, including hot favourite Places To Be (Hello Youmzain), and was off her back with a strong finish to gain ascendancy near the line.

It was a terrific ride by Bosson, who exuded great positioning and timing, and a smart performance by the well-bred entire who continues raising the bar and giving credence to a future stallion career. 

“It was a really good fresh-up win and nice ride of Opie’s to let the speed go and he challenged at the right time in the straight,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“It’s good to see this colt back as a four-year-old, more mature physically and mentally, and winning the way he did. 

“To resume in that manner should be a really good confidence building win and he deserves a return to competing in stakes' races.”

Never really clear in the Group 2 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), won by stable-mate Drops Of Gold (Hello Youmzain), in April at Te Rapa, before winning at Ellerslie, King’s English will likely aim towards the $100,000 Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) on Saturday 7 November at Te Rapa. 

On Soft5 footing, King’s English ran 1000 metres in 57.8, last 600m in 33.7 (approx.), and paid $3.10 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote. 

On course to accept on behalf of the owners, Cheryl Renouf said: “Big thank you to Sam and Reece, we do love and appreciate all the hard work you and the team do for us and our horses.

“King’s English hasn’t had the easiest of roads. He broke his jaw at a young age, but everyone has been patient with him, persevered, and hopefully he’s on his way to bigger and better things.

“So, thank you to Te Akau, we very much appreciate your professionalism and everything you do for us as owners.”

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Sydney Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Lady Karyn Ellis MNZM), King’s English was purchased by Sir David Ellis at the 2024 Inglis Easter Sale, from the draft of Newhaven Park.

“He had a few excuses in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, before running a great race to win at Ellerslie, and he’s resumed with another really good win,” Ellis said.

“He’s now won four of eight starts, he's got a stallion’s pedigree, being by Snitzel out of the Champion race mare English, and the turn of foot that he’s showing is what breeders are looking for in the future.”

By the four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), King’s English is the second foal from the very good sprinter English: Champion 2YO Filly, Champion 3YO Filly, and Champion Female Sprinting Mare in Australia, and she is by Champion Sire and quadruple Champion Broodmare Sire Encosta de Lago (Fairy King).

English was a Group Two winner before finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) as a two-year-old, and recorded Group One victories in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and All Aged Stakes (1400m).

She was a terrifically determined sprinter that included three Group Two wins at Randwick, and earned nearly $3.5 million in prize money.

King’s English is bred on the same Snitzel/Encosta de Lago cross as Group One winner Sword Of State, whom Ellis also purchased as a yearling from the draft of Newgate Farm. 

Champion Two-Year-Old, Sword Of State is now an exciting young sire standing at Cambridge Stud, and already represented by four stakes winners including recent impressive Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and Group 1 Caulfield Guineas' (1600m) winner Warwoven.   

King’s English carries a nicely balanced cross of Danzig, as the sire of Danehill on the sire line and sire of grand-dam sire Anabaa on the dam line of English. 

King’s English was strapped by Tom Murphy.

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz