Star Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Star Kingdom (1946–1967) was a Thoroughbred
race horse bred in Ireland
in 1946. Exported to Australia he was an outstanding sire, being 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 Kingdom was bred by Richard Ball, master of Cloghran Stud, in County Dublin
, Ireland
. Star Kingdom 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 Doncaster sales for 3,100 guineas.
. Conditioned for racing by John Waugh, in his two-year-old racing season he was rated second (to Abernant
) among English sprinters. Out of 16 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.
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 Australia he was re-registered as Star Kingdom and installed at Baramul Stud in New South Wales
. His influence was not immediately felt, but eventually he became Australia'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. Star Kingdom was the leading sire five times, leading sire of two-year-olds seven times as well as leading the broodmare sires' list thrice.
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 furlong
s, 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 Affair, 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.
Star Kingdom 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) he died from a bowel blockage, at the age of 21, on 21 April 1967. A headstone at Baramul Stud commemorates him and his son, Todman.
In 1978, more than 11 years after Star Kingdom's death, he had at least 42 sons standing at studs in Australia and New Zealand, including the very successful Kaoru Star. At the same time he also had over 100 grandsons standing at stud.
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...
race horse bred in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1946. Exported to Australia he was an outstanding sire, being the leading sire
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
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 Kingdom was bred by Richard Ball, master of Cloghran Stud, in County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Star Kingdom was a son of Stardust and out of the unraced mare, Impromptu by Concerto. He was inbred to Sunstar
Sunstar
Sunstar was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and followed with a win in the Epsom Derby and was a successful sire....
(who won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
), in the fourth generation (4m x 4f). Wilfred Harvey purchased him at the Doncaster sales for 3,100 guineas.
Racing record
Star Kingdom was registered and raced under the name of Star King in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Conditioned for racing by John Waugh, in his two-year-old racing season he was rated second (to Abernant
Abernant (horse)
Abernant was British Thoroughbred racehorse who is "considered by many as the greatest British sprinter of the 20th century," according to Godolphin Racing.-Pedigree:...
) among English sprinters. Out of 16 starts he recorded nine wins and was unplaced only four times collecting £12,352 in stakes. His wins included the York Gimcrack Stakes
Gimcrack Stakes
The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and the Sandown Park Produce Stakes. All of his wins, with the exception of one, were by long margins of up to ten lengths.
Stud record
Star Kingdom was purchased by Stanley Wootton at a cost of £4,000 and sent to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
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 Australia he was re-registered as Star Kingdom and installed at Baramul Stud in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. His influence was not immediately felt, but eventually he became Australia'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. Star Kingdom was the leading sire five times, leading sire of two-year-olds seven times as well as leading the broodmare sires' list thrice.
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 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s, 5 furlongs, 5½ furlongs, 8 furlongs and 10 furlongs at various times.
Amongst his offspring were 52 stakeswinners, including the outstanding horses Biscay
Biscay (horse)
Biscay was a brilliant two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Australia in 1965 and who easily won the Maribyrnong Plate by eight lengths....
, Citius, Concert Star, Todman
Todman
Todman was one of the greatest Australian Thoroughbred racehorses and an important sire. He was perhaps best known as the winner of the inaugural STC Golden Slipper in 1957, being the first of Star Kingdom’s five successive winners of the race...
, Fine and Dandy, Noholme
Noholme
Noholme was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1959 Australian Horse of the Year and who took nearly a full second off the race record in winning the prestigious Cox Plate. In 1959 he was Australian Horse of the Year.He was sired by Star Kingdom , the Leading sire in Australia on...
, Reveille, Time And Tide, Sky High
Sky High (horse)
Sky High was an outstanding Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Some of his major race victories include the 1960 STC Golden Slipper Stakes, 1960 VRC Derby, 1961 and 1962 VRC Lightning Stakes and the 1961 AJC Epsom Handicap.-Breeding:...
, Skyline
Skyline (horse)
Skyline was a notable Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who was the best three-year-old of his year. He was a bay or brown stallion foaled in 1955 by the champion sire Star Kingdom from Flight’s Daughter by Helios from Flight by Royal Step...
, King Star, Kingster, Star Affair, Planet Kingdom, Kaoru Star (sire of Luskin Star, a Triple Crown winner
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...
), Mighty Kingdom, Gold Stakes, Magic Night, Starlit, Cymbal, Courteous, Sunset Hue (sire of Gunsynd
Gunsynd
Gunsynd was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won 29 races and A$280,455 in prizemoney. In his seven starts over one mile he was only once defeated, by half-a-head in the Epsom Handicap....
) and Ritmar. The top racehorse Sky High was his most prolific winner, recording 29 wins.
Star Kingdom was also a noted broodmare sire with the likes of his daughter Dark Jewel producing Baguette
Baguette (horse)
Baguette was an Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse that was undefeated as a two-year-old and became the first winner of the Two Year Old Triple Crown. His wins included 14 Principal Races and he retired to become a good sire.-Breeding:...
, 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) he died from a bowel blockage, at the age of 21, on 21 April 1967. A headstone at Baramul Stud commemorates him and his son, Todman.
In 1978, more than 11 years after Star Kingdom's death, he had at least 42 sons standing at studs in Australia and New Zealand, including the very successful Kaoru Star. At the same time he also had over 100 grandsons standing at stud.