Kingsfort

Kingsfort (foaled 20 March 2007) is an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who competed in Ireland, England, the United Arab Emirates and France. As a two-year-old in 2009, he was unbeaten in two races in Ireland including the Group 1 National Stakes. After a transfer to Godolphin and a lengthy absence, he returned for two races in England in 2010 and won the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes. In the following year, he was beaten in all three of his starts and was retired to stud in Italy at the end of the season.

Kingsfort
SireWar Chant
GrandsireDanzig
DamPrincess Kris
DamsireKris
SexStallion
Foaled20 March 2007[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederAirlie Stud
OwnerNorman Ormiston
Godolphin
TrainerKevin Prendergast
Saeed bin Suroor
Record7: 3-0-1
Earnings£188,521
Major wins
National Stakes (2009)
Ben Marshall Stakes (2010)

Background

Kingsfort is a dark bay horse with no white markings bred in Kentucky by the Irish-based Airlie Stud. As a yearling in October 2008, the colt was consigned to the Goff's Orby Million and Sportsman's Yearling Sale and was bought for €36,000 by the bloodstock agent Frank Barryon behalf of the veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast.[2][1] Prendergast also bought the filly Termagant shortly afterwards at the same auction and later joked "It was a good job I wasn’t out for a cup of tea".[3] Kingsfort was taken into training by Prendergast and entered the ownership of the Irish businessman Norman Ormiston.

His sire War Chant recorded his biggest victory in the 2000 edition of the Breeders' Cup Mile. As a breeding stallion, the best of his progeny have included Chamberlain Bridge, who won the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2010 and the Santa Anita Derby winner Midnight Interlude.[4] Kingsfort's dam Princess Kris showed modest racing ability, winning one minor race from eight starts.[5] She did better as a broodmare, also producing the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Prince Arch. She was a granddaughter of Royal Saint, a full sister to Altesse Royale.[6]

Racing career

2009: two-year-old season

Kingsfort made his racecourse debut in a maiden race over seven furlongs on soft ground at the Curragh on 26 June and started at odds of 100/30 in a twelve-runner field. He was settled behind the leaders before taking the lead two furlongs from the finish and won by two lengths from the Dermot Weld-trained Stunning View with the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite Viscount Nelson four and a half lengths back in third.[7] After a two-month break, Kingsfort returned for the Group 1 National Stakes over the same course and distance on 12 September. He started the 9/4 second favourite behind Alfred Nobel in a six-runner field which also included Beethoven, Air Chief Marshall (runner up to Alfred Nobel in the Phoenix Stakes) and the highly regarded maiden winner Chabal. Ridden as on his first appearance by Declan McDonogh, he raced in third place behind Air Chief Marshall and Beethoven before going to the front a furlong out and held off a late challenge from Chabal to win by a neck.[8][9]

In October, Kingsfort was acquired privately by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation and transferred to the training stable of Saeed bin Suroor.

2010: three-year-old season

In early 2010, it was announced that Kingfort had suffered a "setback" and would miss both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.[10]

After an absence of over a year, the colt made his first appearance for his new connections in the Listed Guisborough Stakes over seven furlongs at Redcar Racecourse on 2 October 2010. He started the 11/4 joint-favourite but made little impression and finished fifth behind the five-year-old gelding Harrison George. In the Ben Marshall Stakes at Newmarket four weeks, later he was the least fancied of the three Godolphin runners, starting at 10/1; whereas, his stablemates Secrecy and Alexandros went off at 15/8 and 100/30, respectively. The best of the other five runners appeared to be Nationalism and The Cheka both of whom were preferred to Kingsfort in the betting. After racing in third place behind the 40/1 outsider Lefty, Kingsfort was sent to the front a furlong out and kept on well to win by one and a quarter lengths from The Cheka.[11]

2011: four-year-old season

In the early part of 2011, Kingsfort was sent to Godolphin's training base in the United Arab Emirates and contested two handicap races at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, ridden on both occasions by Frankie Dettori. He finished third to Derbaas in the Falcon Lounge Trophy over 1600 metres in January and fifth to Raihana in the Dubai Excellence Trophy over 1800 metres in February. On his return to Europe, he had one further race. In the Prix du Muguet over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 1 May, he led for most of the way before being overtaken in the last 200 metres and finishing sixth behind Rajsaman.[12]

Stud record

At the end of his racing career, Kingsfort was retired to become a breeding stallion at the Azienda Agricola Cansana in Italy.[13][14]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Kingsfort (USA), bay stallion, 2007[1]
Sire
War Chant (USA)
1997		 Danzig (USA)
1977		 Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Pas de Nom Admirals Voyage
Petitioner
Hollywood Wildcat (USA)
1990		 Kris S Roberto
Sharp Queen
Miss Wildcatter Mr Prospector
Eliabeth K
Dam
Princess Kris (GB)
1990		 Kris (GB)
1976		 Sharpen Up Atan
Rocchetta
Doubly Sure Reliance
Soft Angels
As You Desire Me (IRE)
1977		 Kalamoun Zeddaan
Khairunissa
Royal Saint Saint Crespin
Bleu Azur (Family: 1-w)[6]

References
  1. "Kingsfort pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Goffs Sportsmans Yearling Sale 2008 - Catalogue". Racing Post.
  3. Johnson, Rolf (31 August 2009). "Lillie Langtry easily upstaged". Daily Express.
  4. "War Chant - Progeny". Racing Post.
  5. "Princess Kris - Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  6. "Queen Bertha - Family 1-w". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  7. "Kildare Village European Breeders Fund Maiden result". Racing Post. 26 June 2009.
  8. "National Stakes result". Racing Post. 12 September 2009.
  9. Mary Schweitzer (12 September 2009). "Kingsfort Impressive in National Stakes". The Blood-Horse.
  10. Wood, Greg (24 March 2010). "Kingsfort to miss 2,000 Guineas and the Derby after suffering setback". The Guardian.
  11. "Ben Marshall Stakes result". Racing Post. 30 October 2010.
  12. "Prix du Muguet result". Racing Post. 1 May 2011.
  13. Edward Whitaker (17 November 2011). "Group 1 winner Kingsfort retired to stud in Italy". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017.
  14. "Kingsfort - Progeny". Racing Post.
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