Stallion Barn Yarn

• Stallion name: DESERT KING (IRE)
• Breeding: 1994 Bay Stallion by Danehill out of Sabaah
• Stud name: LP Stallions, Standing at Lauriston Park, Creightons Creek VIC
• Fee: $6,600 Inc GST
• Key statistics and information:
  • Group 1 Classic winning son of Champion sire Danehill
  • Sire of Champion racehorses Makybe Diva and Desert War.
  • A sire of Stakes winners in every age classification 2yo-6yo
  • A sire renowned for his versatility, having sired high quality juveniles, sprinters, milers, middle distance runners and of course Champion stayers.

Questions:

Who was the best horse I beat on the track?

I raced in an era of some very high class gallopers that I was more than competitive with names such as Singspiel, Benny the Dip, Bosra Sham, Pilsudski, Revoque, Daylami, Starborough, Silver Patriarch.

Some of the finest horses to grace the UK turf in the late 1990s. “My two Classic wins were pivotal to putting my late dad Danehill on the map and establishing his reputation as a one of the great stallions of our time.”

I was a darn good 2yo winning the Group One National Stud stakes over 1400m! I bet that may surprise some you.

A Champion and a gun 3yo myself, I would have to say not too many got close to me during my racing career. I would have to say Dr. Johnson and Loup Sauvage tried really hard to catch me to no avail in the Group One Irish Derby run over 2400.

Some still say “What a grand racehorse I was” “Classy, tough and honest displaying great versatility to win from 1400m up to 2400m,”

Only once was I out of the first four and I was well worthy of my title of Champion 3yo of the 1997 international Classifications...

I won two legs of the Triple Crown the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Irish Derby and it was considered due to stamina doubts that I did not contest the last leg which was Irish St Ledger.

If they knew then that I could sire a three time Melbourne Cup winner they may have thought again about me contesting that 3^rd leg of the Triple Crown!

Which of my progeny am I most excited about!

I am proud of them all and their achievements no matter how big or small. I have sired winners all over the world well over $62 Million dollars in prizemoney earnings. Four Champions,

Six Group One winners , 62 stakes horses and you will see them winning 60% of the time over distances of 1000m up to 3200m.

I have sired some amazing gallopers over the years such as my legendary daughter Makybe Diva (Cox plate and three times Melbourne Cup Winner), she is a hard act to follow and I am very proud of her.

I also really have to mention my big tough son in Desert War, a six time Group One Winner and Champion Middle Distance Galloper in Australia. I have sired some great horses overseas including 2yo Gr1 Winner Chelsea Rose and French Champion Mr Dinos and Germany’s Champion stayer “Darsalaam”.

Yet it’s the new kids on the block that have me smiling into my stallion Bridle, such as Nigel Blackiston’s Desert Jeurney - I heard on the feed run, that this strapping lad is being set for the Spring Cups races in season 2014! They must think he is good as they have knocked back some amazing offers for him.

The other young fella that has me thinking back to my racing days is “Our Desert Warrior”. Now Gai Waterhouse has this horse and she thinks he is going to add some more black type to his latest Group 2 placing a few weeks ago. Each year brings new surprises and I know that I have some good youngsters waiting in the wings. One to watch out for is Makybe Diva’s full sister who is only a yearling, but according to reports she is a chip off the old block!

What do you enjoy most about stud life? – 

What do you think I enjoy about Stud Life? I am a stallion and I love girls.

I live at Lauriston Park and Chris Bakker spoils me rotten. I have a huge paddock to myself where I can see what my girls are up to and then I spend my days , eating , serving all those lovely mares , eating , sleeping , and serving mares again. I think I love food as much as I love serving mares.... it’s hard to choose... food or mares??? I love being pampered by Chris Bakker, he gives me lots of attention and plenty of treats of which I am very partial to especially “carrots.”

Do you prefer Northern or Southern Hemisphere mares?

Well I have to say I have loved lots of mares in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere and for a time I  really enjoyed my stallion shuttle trips over the years. I have stood in Ireland, Australia and Japan. However I really started to not like flying after a time as I used to get crook and come down with travel sickness so my owners decided that I could finally call Australia Home and here I am, officially an Aussie! So to not offend any of the mares that have visited me I have loved all the girls all over the world!

What maiden filly would you most like to cover this year?

As I am a gentleman, so I have been told, I am really good at romancing the young fillies who like to venture out with an older fella!

Like I said, I like them young, middle aged or even a bit long in the tooth so to speak. However I do like to have a sneak peak when Chris Bakker is not looking at Black Caviar’s amazing assets!

Who is your all time pin up filly?

Now don’t tell Tugela or High Heels I mentioned Black Caviar in the previous question , they may get a little Jealous as they are two of my favourite mares of all time, mainly because we make really awesome babies together!

What is your favourite colour? Black, Grey, Brown, Bay or Chestnut

I love whatever colour they come in, chestnut, grey, black, brown, bay! I am not fussy one bit.

If you were a human what would your profession be?

Now that is a hard questions as I am a horse and don’t think like a human. Hmmmm…

Yet I am smart, with a great personality and as I love food so much, maybe I would have been a celebrity chef. Not like Gordon Ramsey as I have much better manners than he does, I think I would have been more like Heston Bloom or Jamie Oliver !

To find out more about Desert King visit Bloodstock.com.au Stallions