Progressive South Island farm Greenacres Stud has added further variety to the stallion menu this year with the addition of the well-bred King Of Roses.
He will join O'Reilly's brother Kingmaker and Ruby's Jester on the roster for 2010.

"We're trying to offer our clientele value for their service fees and something a bit different as well," studmaster Angelique Hyde said.

"Breeders have the option then of a sprinter, miler or a distance horse so there's something to offer everyone."

King Of Roses is by champion sire Fairy King, a brother to the legendary Sadler's Wells, out of Stellar Spirit who is a half-sister to the Gr 1 VRC Derby winner Portland Player.

He hails from an outstanding female family with his grand-dam the triple Gr 1 winner Spirit Of Kingston (VRC Oaks, Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas).

She is in turn a half-sister to the former crack filly Rose Of Kingston whose top-level victories included the AJC Derby, VRC and Australasian Oaks.

Her racing exploits earned her an Australian Horse of the Year title and at stud she left the Gr 1 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule.

King Of Roses gave every indication he would add to the family's roll of honour on the track before a fractured sesamoid pre-maturely ended his career.
He raced just four times for a win and two placings and significantly his runaway maiden success came at the expense of the subsequent dual Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh.

King Of Roses was initially retired to stud in a private capacity in 2001 before his transfer as a commercial proposition to Independent Stallions in Victoria in 2007.

His move to Victoria resulted in much increased demand and consecutive books of 76 and 70 mares.

King Of Roses' stock were also keenly sought after at the recent Inglis Sale in Melbourne where, in a subdued market, two of his fillies sold for $A35,000 and another made $A31,000.

His best representative to date has been the Gr 3 Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Oval Affair while his daughter Rose Ceremony also won the Flemington feature.

Further afield, Sunshine Sure Win was the dual stakes winner of the Macau Derby and Guineas.

King Of Roses was secured by Greenacres through the assistance of the Christchurch-based bloodstock agent Rod Fulton.

"We had been scouting around for a new horse and put out some feelers," Hyde said.

"King Of Roses became available and with his pedigree and record we though he would be ideal. He's a lovely, big horse with plenty of strength and we think he'll have plenty of appeal to breeders."

King Of Roses will stand his first season at a fee of $3000 + GST with a live foal guarantee.

Greenacres Stud is a 300-acre property on the northern edge of Amberley and half an-hour from Christchurch Airport.