Desert King

Desert King (foaled 31 March 1994 in Ireland) is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva (GB).

He is a bay son of Danehill (USA) and he was inbred to Northern Dancer in the third generation (3m x 4f).

Racing career

Desert King was trained by Aidan O'Brien, and carried the colours of Michael Tabor. Christy Roche was his jockey for ten of his twelve liftetime starts.

He started on 12 occasions, winning five races, and placing second in another five. His notable victories include the National Stakes, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby Stakes. Despite winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown, he was not aimed at the third leg, the Irish St. Leger, due to stamina doubts.

Stud record

This son of Danehill retired to stud in 1998 at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, as the Champion 3yo of his year and winner of over A$1,590,532 in stakes. His progeny include Makybe Diva, world champion racemare and three times winner of the Melbourne Cup, Lachlan River QLD Derby winner, Desert War twice winner of the Epsom Handicap and the multiple Group 1 winning European champion stayers Mr Dinos and Darsalam.

Desert King returned to Australia in 2005 as a shuttle stallion after a notable absence of three years. Promoted as a Lynden Park stallions sire, Desert King now stands at Bombora Downs in Victoria for A$9,900.00 alongside the Danzig stallion and European champion racehorse Golden Snake. Desert King also stood in Japan at East Stud for the northern hemisphere seasons until 2006. His present Northern Hemisphere base is Scarvagh House Stud in Northern Ireland. Extended pedigree information and live progeny results can be found at the .

• Desert King is inbred 3 x 3 to the stallion Northern Dancer, meaning that Northern Dancer appears twice in the third generation of his pedigree.

References

• Desert King's profile at Scarvagh House Stud