Fairy King (horse)

American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Fairy King

Sire| Northern Dancer
Grandsire| Nearctic
Dam| Fairy Bridge
Damsire| Bold Reason
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| 1982
Country| United States
Colour| Bay
Breeder| Swettenham Stud & Partners
Owner| Robert Sangster
Trainer| Vincent O'Brien
Record| 1: 0-0-0
Earnings| Nil
Major wins
None
Awards
Leading sire in France (1996)

Fairy King (1982–1999) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.

## Background

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A full brother to Sadler's Wells, he was bred and raced by Robert Sangster and associates. Out of the mare Fairy Bridge, he was sired by Northern Dancer who is regarded as the 20th century’s best sire of sires. [1] Archived 2011-06-10 at the Wayback Machine

## Racing career

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Fairy King made only one racing start and broke down with damage to a bone in his foot.

## Stud record

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Retired to stud duty at the Coolmore Stud breeding operation in Ireland, Fairy King most often sired specialist milers. Initially he carried a low stud fee but success from his first crops led to him quickly being much in demand. He stood in Ireland throughout his career and was shuttled to Australia in 1992 and again in 1996.

Fairy King sired 395 race winners, including 73 stakes race winners. Among his notable offspring were:

* Pharaoh's Delight (1987) - won Phoenix Stakes
* Shinko King (b. 1991) - multiple stakes winner in Japan including the Group 1 Takamatsunomiyahai
* Turtle Island (b. 1991) - won Group One Phoenix Stakes and Irish 2000 Guineas
* Encosta De Lago (b. 1993) - won the 1996 Australian Group One Vic Health Cup against older horses, Leading sire in Australia (2008, 2009) [2]
* Helissio (b. 1993) - won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, 1996 European Horse of the Year
* Second Empire (b. 1995) - won Group 1 Grand Criterium
* Princely Heir (b. 1995) - won Phoenix Stakes
* Victory Note (b. 1995) - won Poule d'Essai des Poulains
* Oath (b. 1996) - won 1999 Epsom Derby
* Falbrav (b. 1998) - 2003 European Champion Older Horse, careering earnings of £3,837,108
* Beckett (b. 1998) - won Irish Group 1 National Stakes

Suffering from laminitis, Fairy King was euthanized at Coolmore Stud on June 5, 1999.

## Pedigree

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Pedigree of Fairy King  Sire
Northern Dancer | Nearctic | Nearco | Pharos

|
|
|

Nogara
Lady Angela | Hyperion
Sister Sarah
Natalma | Native Dancer | Polynesian
Geisha
Almahmoud | Mahmoud
Arbitrator
Dam
Fairy Bridge  | Bold Reason | Hail To Reason | Turn-To
Nothirdchance
Lalun | Djeddah
Be Faithful
Special  | Forli | Aristophanes
Trevisa
Thong  | Nantallah
Rough Shod

## References

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* Fairy King's pedigree
* March 10, 2008 article in The Australian titled "Kings rule at Flemington"