King’s English (AUS)
2 c Snitzel – English by Encosta de Lago
O: Te Akau 2024 Sydney Stallion Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)
B: Newhaven Park Stud, NSW
T: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson / Matamata
S: 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale V: Newhaven Park P: David Ellis CNZM, $700,000
W: Diprose Miller Maiden, 1150m, Te Aroha, November 26
Regally bred colt King’s English (Snitzel) delivered on his early promise with a dominant maiden victory at Te Aroha on Tuesday, powering clear to score by 5.8 lengths in the Diprose Miller Maiden (1150m).
Given 47 days between runs after finishing third in his first two appearances at Taupo, the three-year-old rewarded the patient approach of trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, who rated him a strong winning chance.
Ridden by Craig Grylls, King’s English travelled outside the leader I’ll Be Home Soon (Charm Spirit) before putting the race away inside the 300 metres.
“He was impressive,” Grylls said. “Sam [Bergerson] said to me beforehand, just put him in the race and he got away from the barriers really well and I was able to put him outside the leader. It was pretty easy. He travelled nicely and had a really good kick on him today. He definitely franked the form of his first two efforts and you’d think he’d be one that could go on with it, too. He’s a really well-bred colt, just a good mover and a nice horse in general.”
Walker was thrilled to see the son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) take the next step.
“It was a really good win and good, positive, ride by Craig Grylls,” he said.
“He’d been building nicely to the win and his dam, English, just continued to get better as a four and five-year-old, so we expect him to keep improving too. The boys at the colt barn have done a really good job with him and he’ll gain a lot of confidence from the win. He’s certainly not a kid’s pony to handle, by any means, and has shown really good galloping ability the way that he’s been able to break through and win by a big margin.”
King’s English was purchased by David Ellis MNZM from Newhaven Park’s draft at the 2024 Inglis Easter Sale. He is by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice). She is the second foal of champion mare English, a Group 2 winner who finished runner-up in the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and went on to claim Group 1 victories in the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m) and All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m).