Desert King
Encyclopedia
Desert King is a Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Desert King
won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva
(GB).
He is a bay son of Danehill
(USA) and he was inbred to Northern Dancer
in the third generation (3m x 4f).
, and carried the colours of Michael Tabor
. Christy Roche
was his jockey for ten of his twelve liftetime starts.
He started on 12 occasions, winning five races, and placing second in another five. His notable victories include the National Stakes
, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby Stakes
. Despite winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown
, he was not aimed at the third leg, the Irish St. Leger, due to stamina doubts.
retired to stud in 1998 at Coolmore Stud
in Ireland, as the Champion 3yo of his year and winner of over A$1,590,532 in stakes. His progeny include Makybe Diva
, world champion racemare
and three times winner of the Melbourne Cup
, Lachlan River QLD Derby winner, Desert War
twice winner of the Epsom Handicap
and the multiple Group 1 winning European champion stayers Mr Dinos and Darsalam.
Desert King returned to Australia in 2005 as a shuttle stallion after a notable absence of three years. Promoted as a Lynden Park stallions sire, Desert King now stands at Bombora Downs in Victoria for A$9,900.00 alongside the Danzig stallion and European champion racehorse Golden Snake. Desert King also stood in Japan at East Stud for the northern hemisphere seasons until 2006. His present Northern Hemisphere
base is Scarvagh House Stud in Northern Ireland
. Extended pedigree information and live progeny results can be found at the http://www.lyndenparkstallions.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=3.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Desert King
Desert King
Desert King is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva ....
won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
(GB).
He is a bay son of Danehill
Danehill (horse)
Danehill was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in the United States. During his phenomenal stud career Danehill became a champion sire on both sides of the Equator...
(USA) and he was inbred to Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
in the third generation (3m x 4f).
Racing career
Desert King was trained by Aidan O'BrienAidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
, and carried the colours of Michael Tabor
Michael Tabor
Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...
. Christy Roche
Christy Roche
Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...
was his jockey for ten of his twelve liftetime starts.
He started on 12 occasions, winning five races, and placing second in another five. His notable victories include the National Stakes
National Stakes
The National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby Stakes
Irish Derby Stakes
The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.It is Ireland's equivalent of the Epsom Derby,...
. Despite winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, he was not aimed at the third leg, the Irish St. Leger, due to stamina doubts.
Stud record
This son of DanehillDanehill (horse)
Danehill was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in the United States. During his phenomenal stud career Danehill became a champion sire on both sides of the Equator...
retired to stud in 1998 at Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
in Ireland, as the Champion 3yo of his year and winner of over A$1,590,532 in stakes. His progeny include Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
, world champion racemare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
and three times winner of the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, Lachlan River QLD Derby winner, Desert War
Desert War (horse)
Desert War was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse gelding that won six Group one races including the Epsom Handicap , Chipping Norton Stakes, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Ranvet Stakes....
twice winner of the Epsom Handicap
Epsom Handicap
The Epsom Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held over 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse. It is one of the major races of the Sydney Spring Carnival. Many great milers have won the race, including Chatham, Gunsynd, and Super Impose, who was also a dual winner of the...
and the multiple Group 1 winning European champion stayers Mr Dinos and Darsalam.
Desert King returned to Australia in 2005 as a shuttle stallion after a notable absence of three years. Promoted as a Lynden Park stallions sire, Desert King now stands at Bombora Downs in Victoria for A$9,900.00 alongside the Danzig stallion and European champion racehorse Golden Snake. Desert King also stood in Japan at East Stud for the northern hemisphere seasons until 2006. His present Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
base is Scarvagh House Stud in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Extended pedigree information and live progeny results can be found at the http://www.lyndenparkstallions.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=3.