King of Swing (horse)
| 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.[citation needed]
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]
His notable performances include:[5][6]
| Placing | Year | Race | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | August 2017 | Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown Series Final (Group 1, 2240m, Melton) | King of Swong | Poster Boy | Colt Thirty One |
| 1st | April 2018 | Western Australian Derby (Group 1, 2536m, Gloucester Park) | King of Swing | Bechers Brook | Cott Beach |
| 1st | January 2020 | Perc Hall FFA (Group 3, 1609m, Menangle) | King of Swing | Ignatius | Majordan. |
| 1st | February 2020 | A G Hunter Cup (Group 1, Melton) | King of Swing | Our Uncle Sam | Chase Auckland |
| 1st | February 2020 | Allied Express Sprint (Group 1, Menangle) | King of Swing | Code Bailey | AGs White Socks |
| 1st | March 2020 | Miracle Mile Pace (Group 1, Menangle) | King of Swing | Lochinvar Art | Alta Orlando |
| 2nd | October 2020 | Victoria Cup (Group 1, 2240m, Melton)[7] | Lochinvar Art | King of Swing | Bling It On |
| 1st | December 2020 | TAB Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship (Group 1, 2680m, Albion Park) | King of Swing | Colt Thirty One | Turn It Up |
| 1st | February 2021 | Schweppes Sprint (Group 1, 1609m, Menangle) | King of Swing | Out To Play | One Change |
| 3rd | February 2021 | A G Hunter Cup[8] | Lochinvar Art | Alta Orlando | King of Swing |
| 1st | March 2021 | Miracle Mile Pace | King of Swing | Expensive Ego | Wolf Stride |
| 2nd | July 2021 | Garrards Sunshine Sprint (Group 1, 1660m, Albion Park) | Copy That | King of Swing | Rockin Marty |
| 3rd | July 2021 | TAB Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship | Amazing Dream | Rockin Marty | King of Swing |
| 3rd | October 2021 | Victoria Cup (Group 1, 2150m, Bendigo) | Max Delight | Triple Eight | King of Swing |
| 1st | November 2021 | Interdominion Pacing Championship heat, Menangle | King of Swing | Majestic Cruiser | Boncel Benjamin |
| 1st | December 2021 | Interdominion Pacing Championship heat, Bathurst | King of Swing | Boncel Benjamin | Max Delight |
| 1st | December 2021 | Interdominion Pacing Championship heat, Newcastle | King of Swing | Balraj | Triple Eight |
| 5th | December 2021 | Inter Dominion Pacing Championship final[9] | Boncel Benjamin | Expensive Ego | Alta Orlando |
| 1st | February 2022 | A G Hunter Cup | King of Swing | Spirit Of St Louis | Amazing Dream. |
| 1st | February 2022 | Allied Express Sprint | King of Swing | Bundoran | Jay Ok |
| 1st | March 2022 | Miracle Mile Pace[10] | King of Swing | Spirit Of St Louis | Better Eclipse |
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 was set at $8,800 AUD.[13][14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ The King Of Swing The King Of Menangle. Retrieved 14 April 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Reid, Brad (31 August 2023). "Breckon Farms eagerly awaiting King Of Swing progeny - Harnesslink".
- ^ Hamilton, Adam (13 March 2022). "The King of Australia scores remarkable three-peat".
- ^ "KING OF SWING NZ :: Racing Queensland". www.racingqueensland.com.au. 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "Lochinvar Art's Victoria Cup masterpiece - Harnesslink". 10 October 2020.
- ^ Winnell, HRV-Cody. "Hunter Cup: 'Dream come true' win for Arty party". Harness Racing Victoria.
- ^ "Swansong then stud for King Of Swing". www.hrnz.co.nz.
- ^ Rando, Amanda (14 March 2022). "'King' ready for stud - Harnesslink".
- ^ "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". 11 April 2023.