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Throughout the world, the desire to produce a champion thoroughbred racehorse stimulates intense study of bloodlines, character and nutrition. Often this ambition is never achieved, sometimes achieved in part, and on rare occasions, achieved in full.

STAR KING has played a notable part in affording to numbers of breeders in the intense gratification of realizing their ambitions in full. This is STAR KING's complete life story and of the spread of his influence around the world.

STAR KING (1946-1967) was a pony-sized Thoroughbred race horse bred in in 1946. Exported to he became an outstanding sire and was the most potent force in the, "Sport of Kings". Now his descendants circle the globe and his influence grows with the years. He was the leading sire for five seasons, the leading sire of two-year-olds seven times as well as heading the broodmare sires' list three times.

Foaled on 30 April 1946, STAR KING was bred by Richard Ball, master of Cloghran Stud, in . STAR KING was a son of STARDUST and out of the unraced mare, IMPROMPTU by CONCERTO. He was inbred to SUNSTAR (who won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby), in the fourth generation (4m x 4f). Wilfred Harvey purchased him at the sales for 3,100 guineas.

STAR KING was registered and raced in ; he was conditioned by John Waugh in his two-year-old racing season and was rated second (to ABERNANT) among English sprinters. From sixteen starts he recorded nine wins and was unplaced only four times collecting £12,352 in stakes. His wins included the York Gimcrack Stakes and the Sandown Park Produce Stakes. All of his wins, with the exception of one, were by long margins of up to ten lengths.

STAR KING was purchased by Stanley Wootton at a cost of £4,000 and sent to in 1951. Upon arrival it was obvious that he had not travelled well and he stood only 15 hands and a ½ inch high, leaving his purchasers with serious doubts about the wisdom of their choice. As there was already a STAR KING in he was re-registered as and installed at Baramul Stud in . His influence was not immediately felt, but eventually he became 's leading sire for the first time in the 1958-59 season when his fifth crop began racing although he was the leading sire of two-year olds in his first season and the first sire whose earners were to reach the equivalent of $2 million. was the leading sire five times, leading sire of two-year-olds seven times as well as leading the broodmare sires' list three times.

One of his most extraordinary achievements was to sire the winner of the first five Golden Slipper Stakes. Primarily a speed sire his influence is still evident in the bloodlines of many Australian Thoroughbreds today. His progeny held Australian records for 4 furlongs, 5 furlongs, 5½ furlongs, 8 furlongs and 10 furlongs at various times.

Amongst his offspring were 52 stakeswinners, including the outstanding horses BISCAY, CITIUS, CONCERT STAR, TODMAN, FINE AND DANDY, NOHOLME, REVEILLE, TIME AND TIDE, SKY HIGH, SKYLINE, KING STAR, KINGSTER, STAR AFFFAIR, PLANET KINGDOM, KAORU STAR (sire of LUSKIN STAR, a Triple Crown winner), MIGHTY KINGDOM, GOLD STAKES, MAGIC NIGHT, STARLIT, CYMBAL, COURTEOUS, SUNSET HUE (sire of GUNSYND) and RITMAR. The top racehorse SKY HIGH was his most prolific winner, recording 29 wins.

was also a noted broodmare sire with the likes of his daughter DARK JEWEL producing BAGUETTE, a Golden Slipper Stakes winner who was unbeaten in his two-year old season and future sire of note.

Standing at Barramul Stud for 16 successive seasons (1951-1966) died from an attack of colitis at the age of 21, on April 21, 1967. He died with his head resting in the arms of his long-time groom, Noel Hennessy. A headstone at Baramul Stud commemorates him and his son, TODMAN.

In 1978, more that 11 years after  STAR KINGDOM's death, he had at least 42 sons standing at stud in and , including the very successful KAORU STAR. At the same time he also had over 100 grandsons standing at stud.

This 1988 cinematic gem of a production includes unique footage never before seen and is a must for any horse racing fan.
 

 

55 Minutes.

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