Fairy King (USA)
March 4, 1982 – June 1999
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Fairy Bridge (USA), by Bold Reason (USA)
Family 5-h
March 4, 1982 – June 1999
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Fairy Bridge (USA), by Bold Reason (USA)
Family 5-h
A full brother to the first-rate racehorse Sadler's Wells and three other stakes winners, Fairy King suffered an ankle injury in his only start and never had the opportunity to demonstrate that he shared the talent implied by his pedigree. Nonetheless, trainer Vincent O'Brien was convinced that he had potential and helped him get an opportunity at stud. Fairy King did the rest. While he was not the equal of Sadler's Wells, one of the greatest sires of modern times, Fairy King was good enough to lead the French general sire list in 1996. He also left a successor in two-time Australian champion sire Encosta de Lago.
Race record
1 start, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
As an individual
A well-balanced, blocky, muscular bay horse, Fairy King stood 15.3 hands. He was not quite as good in the shoulder as his brother Sadler's Wells and was slightly shorter in the leg.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club credit Fairy King with 425 winners (50.4%) and 73 stakes winners (8.7%) from 843 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Beckett (IRE), Encosta de Lago (AUS), Fairy Heights (IRE), Falbrav (IRE), Helissio (FR), Oath (IRE), Pharaoh's Delight (IRE), Prince Arthur (IRE), Princely Heir (IRE), Revoque (IRE), Second Empire (IRE), Shinko King (IRE), Turtle Island (IRE), Victory Note (USA), Ya Malak (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fairy King was bred by Swettenham Stud and Partners, the American breeding operation of Coolmore Stud partner Robert Sangster. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. He initially stood at Ballysheehan Stud in Ireland, later moving to Coolmore's main facility in County Tipperary. He also shuttled to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season in 1992 and 1996. He was pensioned in 1998 due to declining fertility. He was humanely destroyed due to laminitis in June 1999 and was buried at Coolmore near the graves of Caerleon and Golden Fleece.
Pedigree notes
Fairy King is inbred 4x5 to six-time English leading sire Hyperion, a dual Classic winner in England. He is a full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Sadler's Wells, a record-breaking sire with 14 championships (13 of them consecutive) on the English/Irish general sire list, three French sire championships, and multiple broodmare sire championships in England and Ireland, France and the United States. Fairy King is also a full brother to 1986 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tate Gallery, Irish Group 3 winner Fairy Gold, and French stakes winner Puppet Dance.
Fairy King is out of 1977 Irish champion juvenile filly Fairy Bridge, a half sister to 1980 French champion miler and excellent sire Nureyev (by Northern Dancer) and to multiple Grade 2 winner Number (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery and Grade 3 winners Numerous and Chequer (all by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of three stakes winners including Irish Group 2 winner Lizard Island. Fairy Bridge is also a half sister to Bound (by Nijinsky II), dam of 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) winner Archipenko (by Kingmambo) and listed stakes winner Limit (by Cox's Ridge) and second dam of four stakes winners including 2010 American champion older male Blame, and to Kilavea (by Hawaii), dam of English Group 3 winner Kiliniski (by Niniski) and second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Bienamado.
Fairy Bridge's dam Special (by Forli) is a full sister to 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch and to 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell, dam of three stakes winners including 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland (by Sadler's Wells). Special is also a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table); to stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus), dam of multiple stakes producer Pump (by Forli); to Handsewn (by Sir Ivor), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Festival Hall (by Sadler's Wells) and Grade 3 winner Hymn (by Fairy King); and to Geiger Counter (by Mr. Prospector), a useful sire. The family traces back to the great Claiborne Farm matriarch Rough Shod II.
Last updated: June 12, 2023
Race record
1 start, 0 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
As an individual
A well-balanced, blocky, muscular bay horse, Fairy King stood 15.3 hands. He was not quite as good in the shoulder as his brother Sadler's Wells and was slightly shorter in the leg.
As a stallion
Records kept by The Jockey Club credit Fairy King with 425 winners (50.4%) and 73 stakes winners (8.7%) from 843 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the English/Irish combined general sire list in 1991; 4th in 1993 and 1997; 10th in 1998.
- Led the French general sire list in 1996; 7th in 1997; 10th in 1998.
Notable progeny
Beckett (IRE), Encosta de Lago (AUS), Fairy Heights (IRE), Falbrav (IRE), Helissio (FR), Oath (IRE), Pharaoh's Delight (IRE), Prince Arthur (IRE), Princely Heir (IRE), Revoque (IRE), Second Empire (IRE), Shinko King (IRE), Turtle Island (IRE), Victory Note (USA), Ya Malak (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fairy King was bred by Swettenham Stud and Partners, the American breeding operation of Coolmore Stud partner Robert Sangster. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. He initially stood at Ballysheehan Stud in Ireland, later moving to Coolmore's main facility in County Tipperary. He also shuttled to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season in 1992 and 1996. He was pensioned in 1998 due to declining fertility. He was humanely destroyed due to laminitis in June 1999 and was buried at Coolmore near the graves of Caerleon and Golden Fleece.
Pedigree notes
Fairy King is inbred 4x5 to six-time English leading sire Hyperion, a dual Classic winner in England. He is a full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Sadler's Wells, a record-breaking sire with 14 championships (13 of them consecutive) on the English/Irish general sire list, three French sire championships, and multiple broodmare sire championships in England and Ireland, France and the United States. Fairy King is also a full brother to 1986 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tate Gallery, Irish Group 3 winner Fairy Gold, and French stakes winner Puppet Dance.
Fairy King is out of 1977 Irish champion juvenile filly Fairy Bridge, a half sister to 1980 French champion miler and excellent sire Nureyev (by Northern Dancer) and to multiple Grade 2 winner Number (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery and Grade 3 winners Numerous and Chequer (all by Mr. Prospector) and second dam of three stakes winners including Irish Group 2 winner Lizard Island. Fairy Bridge is also a half sister to Bound (by Nijinsky II), dam of 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) winner Archipenko (by Kingmambo) and listed stakes winner Limit (by Cox's Ridge) and second dam of four stakes winners including 2010 American champion older male Blame, and to Kilavea (by Hawaii), dam of English Group 3 winner Kiliniski (by Niniski) and second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Grade 1 winner Bienamado.
Fairy Bridge's dam Special (by Forli) is a full sister to 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch and to 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell, dam of three stakes winners including 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland (by Sadler's Wells). Special is also a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table); to stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus), dam of multiple stakes producer Pump (by Forli); to Handsewn (by Sir Ivor), dam of Irish Group 3 winner Festival Hall (by Sadler's Wells) and Grade 3 winner Hymn (by Fairy King); and to Geiger Counter (by Mr. Prospector), a useful sire. The family traces back to the great Claiborne Farm matriarch Rough Shod II.
Last updated: June 12, 2023