King’s Chapel First South African Winner
| King’s Chapel First South African Winner |
King’s Chapel has got his stallion career in South Africa off the mark with City Express winning a great race at Fairview by a nose over 1000m on turf in slightly soft going, whilst King’s Chapel also had a second in New Zealand Gr3 White Robe Lodge earlier today with Chapel Star(NZ).
The two year old filly, unsold at the National Two Year Old sale in August – has an impressive race record to date – having raced four times and yet to be out of the money. Bred by Jason Render of Bush Hill Stud, who stand King’s Chapel [pictured above], City Express is owned and trained by Alan Greef.
Out of Tramway’s Strike by Houston Connection, City Express’s older sister is a three year old by Fort Beluga named Enchanted Bay. She is also knocking on the door for a win and has placed closely twice from three starts – all under a length of the winner.
In New Zealand Chapel Star(NZ) finished second to mare The Diamond One in the Gr3 White Robe Lodge Handicap.
The race was named in honour of the winner’s trainer Steven Anderton, a member of White Robe Lodge’s legendary Anderton family who was tragically killed in a horse float accident earlier this week.
A blanket photo finish was had for second place, which in the end fittingly went to Chapel Star [pictured right] who was trained by Steve Anderton’s brother-in-law Terry Kennedy. Sold off the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale, Chapel Star is a seven-time winner who has placed nine times.
King’s Chapel has proven himself overseas with winners weekly in various countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Macau, Singapore and Hong Kong. He has had several Group winning and performing horses – including Gr2 winner King’s Ransom, Gr3 and 12-time winning King Montrose and Singapore Group performer, Boundless Glory.
A magnificent liver chestnut that exudes strength and substance, he is a speedy son of King Of Kings out of Lower Chapel by Sharpo.
Crowned New Zealand’s Horse Of The Year, King’s Chapel was also Champion Three Year old and Champion Sprinter/Miler. He won 10 races in New Zealand and Australia from 1200m – 1600m, achieving a Timeform Rating of 123.
Starting his career as a two year old – he proved himself to be a sound, precocious and courageous individual, with plenty of speed.
Incredibly, from just five horses in his first South African crop to run, only one has been out of the places from eight runs in total – certainly a stallion to watch.
He is also having Group success in Australia as a broodmare sire with three year old filly Thurlow who has previously placed second in a Gr3 by a nose and a recent winner of the Merson Cooper Stakes Listed, she is lined up to run in the Australian Gr3 Chairman’s Handicap.
King’s Chapel stood for a fee of R15 000 in 2014.
