King of Steel, ‘he’s blessed with everything you want from a champion – physicality, cruising speed, a change of gear, and most of all, a will to win,’ said jockey Frankie Dettori.
As a brilliant Group 1 winning son of Wotton Bassett, King Of Steel retires to Tally Ho Stud in Ireland as the highest-rated colt of the successful Wotton Bassett over of the past six years.
“King Of Steel has been an outstanding flagbearer for AMO Racing,” said Kia Joorabchian “and perfectly exemplifying the ambitions of our operation, so we will be supporting him fully.”
“Last year’s Champions Day was one of the greatest moments in racing history as we witnessed King Of Steel deliver a stunning performance for Frankie Dettori on his final ride at Ascot.”
“Over the past season, he established himself as one of the standout horses of his generation, and we are proud to have such a top-class son of Wootton Bassett standing at a prestigious farm.”
“I’ve never been more excited about a stallion, and I can’t wait to see his offspring excel in the years ahead as this admirable horse will be strongly supported at stud by my AMO Racing.”
His crowning moment certainly came last season in winning the Gr1 Champion Stakes under Frankie Dettori, to past the field and win from Via Sistina, a later multiple Gr1 winner in Australia.
That win marked the finale of an outstanding 3yo season that began in running the future six-times Gr1 winner Auguste Rodin to a half- length second in the Gr1 Derby on his seasonal debut.
From there, he went to Royal Ascot for victory in the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes, the Ascot Derby, where he wasn’t extended to defeat the St Leger winner Continuous by nearly four lengths.
King of Steel went on to be third to Hukum in the Gr1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and fourth in the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes prior to taking the Gr1 Champion Stakes at Ascot.
In fact, AMO Racing knew they had a Classic contender when King Of Steel made his mark as a juvenile with a near five-length victory on debut at Nottingham, that received Classic quotes.
As ‘a standout horse of his generation’ King Of Steel is by the exciting international sire Wootton Bassett, who has produced the highest priced colt in European sales history at 4.3mGns.
In being European Champion 2YO Sire of 2024, with his yearlings making 1.7mGns, €1.4m, €675,000, and $2.1m in Australian with his Battleofwinterfell colt sold for $1.7mil at the Gold Coast.
With King of Steel having won £1.5 mil in Stakes, the French Champion 2YO Wotton Bassett certainly improves his stock with the likes of Almanzor and Wooded, being highly popular at stud.
A hansom grey-roan, he was purchased by Amo Racing for $200,000 at 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, being bred by Bonne Chance Farm from the winning Verglas mare Eldacar.
In being the last foal of Eldacar, herself a €95,000 Arqana buy, she’s a sister to Gr3 placed winner Miss Crissy, being the family of Champion Australian Miler Contributer, raced by Godolphin.
The winner of 8 races in both Australia and England, Contributer took out the Gr1 Rawson Stakes and Gr1 Chipping Norton Stakes, and is now the sire of Gr1 Lion’s Roar and Compionessa.
As AMO Racing is not afraid to change stables, King Of Steel was originally trained by David Loughnane as a 2yo on winning over 1m½f, while later at three with Roger Varian at Newmarket.
