Midweek Double - King's English Reigns

Royally bred colt King’s English (3 c Snitzel – English, by Encosta de Lago) broke through stylishly in the $25,000 Diprose Miller Maiden 1150 metres on 26 November at Te Aroha.

Having run home well for third in his first two starts at Taupo, King’s English was given time (47 days) since last racing on 10 October by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, and returned to Raceday looking superb. 

Ridden positively from the outset by leading jockey Craig Grylls, King’s English raced outside the leader I’ll Be Home Soon (Charm Spirit), shook him off at the 300m, and quickened away to win easily by five and three-quarter lengths.

“He was impressive,” Grylls said. “Sam (Bergerson) said to me beforehand, just put him in race and he got away from the barriers really well and I was able to put him outside the leader.

“It was pretty easy. He travelled nicely and had a really good kick on him today. He definitely franked the form of his first two efforts and you’d think he’d be one that could go on with it, too. 

“He’s a really well-bred colt, just a good mover and a nice horse in general.”

On footing upgraded to Good3, King’s English ran 1150 metres in 1:06.8, last 600m in 34.6, and kept shortening in betting to pay $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win and good, positive, ride by Craig Grylls,” Walker said. “He’d been building nicely to the win and his dam English just continued to get better as a four and five-year-old, so we expect him to keep improving too.

“The boys at the Colt Barn have done a really good job with him and he’ll gain a lot of confidence from the win.

“He’s certainly not a kid’s pony to handle, by any means, and has shown really good galloping ability the way that he’s been able to break through and win by a big margin.”

On course, Bergerson added: “He was electric. We thought they’d gone pretty hard early, and obviously the leader weakened off, but he kept going right through the line.

“He’s going from strength to strength the more we do with him and a bit of time between runs he was feeling pretty good about himself. It was good to see him put in a performance like that.

“It’s an exciting time for the ownership group and hopefully he can go on with it.”

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

By the four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), King’s English is the second foal from the outstanding sprinter English: Champion 2YO Filly, Champion 3YO Filly, and Champion Female Sprinting Mare in Australia, 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 as a two-year-old, and recorded Group One victories in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) and Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m).

She was a terrifically determined sprinter who 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 is already represented by Magic Millions Listed Debutante Stakes (1000m) winner Torture, after his first crop yearlings sold up to A$540,000. 

“It was very exciting the way he won,” Ellis said. “It’s not easy to win by that sort of margin in any grade, and he deserved to win after racing well for third in his first two starts.

“We’ve had a great relationship with the Kelly family of Newhaven, John and Charles, one of the best breeders in Australia, and he was a beautiful colt in every respect when we bought him.

“We’d bought Sword Of State, bred on the same cross, and it’s one of the best pedigrees you can buy. 

“He’s a great specimen, a lovely loose walker and has plenty of rein in his physique, which will stand by him as he matures.

“He had a great way of going, was solid, strong, had a muscular body, and just looked absolute class when we bought him and it’s great to see him come to fruition with a big win.

“It really is a stallion’s pedigree and has all the right hallmarks of an exciting thoroughbred.”

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