King Of Swing
| King Of Swing | |
|---|---|
| Breed | Standardbred |
| Sire | Rocknroll Hanover (USA) |
| Grandsire | Western Ideal (USA) |
| Dam | Twist And Twirl (NZ) |
| Maternal grandsire | Artsplace (USA) |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 13 November 2014 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Breckon Farms Limited |
| Trainer | Belinda McCarthy |
| Major wins | |
| 2020, 2021 & 2022 Miracle Mile Pace 2020 & 2022 A G Hunter Cup | |
| Awards | |
| 2020, 2021 & 2022 Australian Harness Horse of the Year | |
King Of Swing (foaled 13 November 2014) is a New Zealand bred Standardbred racehorse that became Australasia's champion pacer.
King Of Swing was awarded the Australian Harness Horse of the Year three times (2020, 2021 and 2022).[1] He became the first pacer to win Australasia's richest race, the $A1 million Miracle Mile Pace, three times.[2] He also won the A G Hunter Cup twice and in total he had 11 Group 1 victories.
Racing career[edit]
King Of Swing was bred by Breckon Farms Limited and originally trained by Ray Green in New Zealand.[3] He raced 13 times for Green for 7 wins and 4 seconds, driven by David, Phillip and Zackary Butcher. In August 2017 he won two races in Australia, driven by David Butcher, including the $285,000 Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Series Final for 2 year old colts and geldings (Group 1, 2240m, Melton) beating Poster Boy and Colt Thirty One.
In March 2018 he was exported to Australia where he was trained by Gary Hall Senior. He later moved to the stables Belinda and Luke McCarthy.[4]
He won the following major races:[5][6]
- April 2018 – Western Australian Derby (Group 1, 2536m, Gloucester Park), beating Bechers Brook and Cott Beach.
- January 2020 – Perc Hall FFA (Group 3, 1609m, Menangle), beating Ignatius and Majordan.
- February 2020 – A G Hunter Cup (Group 1, Melton) beating Our Uncle Sam and Chase Auckland.
- February 2020 – Allied Express Sprint (Group 1, Menangle) beating Code Bailey and AGs White Socks.
- March 2020 – Miracle Mile Pace (Group 1, Menangle) beating Lochinvar Art and Alta Orlando.
- December 2020 – TAB Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship (Group 1, 2680m, Albion Park) beating Colt Thirty One and Turn It Up.
- February 2021 – Schweppes Sprint (Group 1, 1609m, Menangle), beating Out To Play and One Change.
- March 2021 – Miracle Mile Pace, beating Expensive Ego and Wolf Stride.
- November/December 2021 - 3 heats of the Interdominion Pacing Championship held at Menangle, Bathurst & Newcastle. (He was 5th in the Grand Final won by Boncel Benjamin).[7]
- February 2022 – A G Hunter Cup, beating Spirit Of St Louis and Amazing Dream.
- February 2022 – Allied Express Sprint, beating Bundoran and Jay Ok.
- March 2022 – Miracle Mile Pace, beating Spirit Of St Louis and Better Eclipse.[8]
Notable placings include:
- October 2020 – 2nd in the Victoria Cup (Group 1, 2240m, Melton) behind Lochinvar Art, with Bling It On 3rd.[9]
- February 2021 – 3rd in the A G Hunter Cup behind Lochinvar Art and Alta Orlando.[10]
- July 2021 – 2nd in the Garrards Sunshine Sprint (Group 1, 1660m, Albion Park) behind Copy That with Rockin Marty 3rd.
- July 2021 – 3rd in the TAB Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship behind Amazing Dream and Rockin Marty.
- October 2021 – 3rd in the Victoria Cup (Group 1, 2150m, Bendigo) behind Max Delight and Triple Eight.
King Of Swing retired from racing with a record of 81 starts for 43 wins and 18 placings and AUD $3,390,546 in earnings.[11]
Stud career[edit]
After retiring from the track, King Of Swing commenced stud duties at Cobbitty Equine Farm, New South Wales.[12] His 2023/24 service fee is AUD$8,800 AUD.[13][14]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ The King Of Swing The King Of Menangle. Retrieved 2024-04-14 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Reid, Brad (August 31, 2023). "Breckon Farms eagerly awaiting King Of Swing progeny - Harnesslink".
- ^ Hamilton, Adam (March 13, 2022). "The King of Australia scores remarkable three-peat".
- ^ "KING OF SWING NZ :: Racing Queensland". www.racingqueensland.com.au. April 13, 2024.
- ^ "Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "Swansong then stud for King Of Swing". www.hrnz.co.nz.
- ^ Rando, Amanda (March 14, 2022). "'King' ready for stud - Harnesslink".
- ^ "Lochinvar Art's Victoria Cup masterpiece - Harnesslink". October 10, 2020.
- ^ Winnell, HRV-Cody. "Hunter Cup: 'Dream come true' win for Arty party". Harness Racing Victoria.
- ^ "King Of Swing Harness Runner Profile - Next Race, Form, Stats, News, Breeding". www.racingandsports.com.au.
- ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "King Of Swing".
- ^ "King Of Swing Archives". April 11, 2023.