King Of Athens (USA) will be represented for the first time at public auction this Sunday when his filly foal from Chez Dumonet (NZ) parades at the Magic Millions Winter Sale.
The bay filly (pictured) has been catalogued as Lot 110 by Kingsgrove Stud’s Shannara Beresi. Her dam Chez Dumonet (Mastercraftsman) won at Echuca and Pinjarra and her 2yo is an unraced gelding named Tamleo (Our Boy Leo) with Lake Clifton trainer Josh McLeod.
“She’s a lovely October foal and is already on the big side,” Beresi said. “My aunt Sue Benthien bred her and she has since sent more mares to King Of Athens.”
Kingsgrove Stud also has a My Admiration weanling colt (Lot 114) entered for the Swan Valley Sale this Sunday. His dam Fey Miss (Canny Lad) is an unraced daughter of LR Wyong Cup winner Aphasia (Orojoya).
Beresi sold a Sessions – Scala’s Quest (Marooned) yearling filly to Colin Webster at the Magic Millions Sale in February for $60,000. She is a half-sister to the Webster-trained Properantes (Danehill Express) who won a G3 R J Peters Stakes & LR Raconteur Stakes.
Scala’s Quest was $6,000 buy for Beresi at the 2020 Mungrup Stud Dispersal and her current 2yo Playing Quest (Playing God) has been placed in Lark Hill trials for trainer Michael Lane and a syndicate managed by Peter Capararo.
King Of Athens (USA) brings another successful branch of the Danzig sireline to local breeders through War Front (USA) who has sired 112 Stakes winners from his Kentucky base at Claiborne Farm.
King Of Athens won a Lingfield nursery by five lengths and returned at three for a close second in the LR Irish 2000 Guineas Trial (1400m) at Leopardstown and a driving fourth in the G3 Ballycorus Stakes at Fairyhouse.
A stifle injury called a halt to his career for Aidan O’Brien. “King Of Athens is a lovely horse with a great temperament and is regarded highly here,” the Coolmore trainer said. “He’s a good-limbed colt with lots of quality and plenty of ability.”
O’Brien saddled his dam Together Forever (Galileo) to a Group 1 victory in the 2014 Dubai 2YO Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Her sister Forever Together added another Group 1 for the same connections in the 2018 English Oaks.
King Of Athens is bred on the same War Front – Galileo cross which has delivered Group 1 stars like U S Navy Flag who shuttles to The Oaks Stud in New Zealand where his current 2yo crop is headed by Chantilly Lace (LR Castletown Stakes) and Aprilia who was runner-up in the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.
The New St Jude Farm in Serpentine stands King Of Athens for a $3,300 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information contact James Miorada on 0418 912 662.
