Horse Racing
Former Champion Stakes Winner King Of Steel Retired To Stud
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid contacts with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use. You can also hear Andy's weekly horse racing views and best bets on the popular Final Furlong podcast.
Get to know Andy Newton betterPublished17 hours ago on October 18, 2024
Amo Racing spent in the region of 22m guineas at the recent October Sales but they will be able to start breeding more of their own from 2025, as they announced of the 2024 British Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel will be retired to stud.
King Of Steel Retired And Will Stand At The Tally-Ho Stud In 2025
The son of Wotton Bassett King Of Steel has been retired to stud on the eve of his year anniversary of winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
His finest hour on the track came at Ascot’s British Champions Day in 2023, under a superb ride by Frankie Dettori, in what also turned out to be the pocket Italian’s final outing at the Berkshire course (watch below).
He was sent off as the 3/1 favourite that day with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – and became the fifth winning market leader of the Champion Stakes since 2016.
After that success, which saw him bank his owner Kia Joorabchian £737,230, King Of Steel raced just once more when placed fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
Almost £1.5m In Prize Money Banked
In total the horse, who was trained by Roger Varian, only raced eight times – but won three of those and banked just shy of £1.5m for this Amo Racing connections.
This season there was hope of keeping the horse in training, but several setbacks prevented King Of Steel to making it to the track, with Kia Joorabchian and his team conceding defeat and being a colt still then a lucrative career at stud awaits in Ireland.
He was due to return in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May but was found to be lame in the build-up and that seemed to be the beginning of the end for his racing career.
The grey was also runner-up to Auguste Rodin in the 2023 Epsom Derby and can also claim to be a Royal Ascot winner – having romped away with the Edward VII Stakes last season too.
King Of Steel Career In Numbers
- Runs: 8
- Wins: 3
- Top Three: 5
- Career Winnings: £1,496,812
Amo Racing Owner Kia Joorabchian Said
“King Of Steel has been an outstanding flagbearer for Amo Racing, perfectly exemplifying the ambitions of our operation. 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 truly established himself as one of the standout horses of his generation. We are incredibly proud to have such a top-class son of Wootton Bassett standing at a prestigious farm, and we are committed to supporting him fully in the years ahead.
While Frankie Dettori, who rode King Of Steel in his last two races added.
“King Of Steel wrote an Ascot Champion Stakes finale that not even Steven Spielberg could have imagined. He’s a horse blessed with everything you want from a champion – physicality, cruising speed, a change of gear, and above all, the will to win. I will never forget that emotional day. I wish him all the best at stud and thank him for the unforgettable memories.
“It was one of the most memorable moments of my racing career. King Of Steel excelled and gave me the perfect Ascot finale. I have no doubt he’ll become a stallion to be reckoned with, and I’m deeply grateful to him for helping me close my Ascot career in such an incredible way.”
At this stage there is no stud fee announced for his standing at the Tally-Ho stud in Ireland.