King of Roses (Aus)

( Fairy King x Stellar Spirit) 

bay 1997 16.2hh

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 is 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 prematurely ended his career.
He raced just four times for a win and two placings and his runaway maiden success came at the expense of the subsequent dual Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh.