LEADING SIRES HAVE
RETIRED FROM STUD

28 March 2002
Sarah Whitelaw

The similarly named stallions, but very different in influence, Kris S. and Kris have both been retired from stud duty. Both are getting on- Kris S. is 25 and Kris 26 and both have more than left their mark on the racing and breeding industry. Kris S.’s retirement was announced on Tuesday 26 March after the stallion failed to recover from a neck injury. Kris’s retirement was announced a few weeks ago, when it became apparent that he could no longer physically manage to cover his mares.

Kris S. has made it the hard way. Possibly the best sire son of Epsom Derby winner and leading sire, Roberto and out of Princequillo mare, Sharp Queen, Kris S. won three of five starts including a minor stakes race. Like major sire, Mr Prospector, Kris S. was retired to stud in Florida and was eventually moved to Kentucky where he stood, at the time of his retirement, at Winstar Farm along champions Tiznow, Victory Gallop and Groovy. His fee ended up at $150,000 - not bad for a minor stakes winner whose stud career began in Florida! Kris S. is along with Danzig the leading sire of Breeders Cup winners with four-Hollywood Wildcat (Distaff), Brocco (Juvenile), Prized (Turf) and Soaring Softly, who won the inaugural running of the Fillies and Mares Turf. Other major winners sired by Kris S. include You And I, Kissin Kris and Arch.

Kris S. is also making a mark both as broodmare sire of likes of War Chant and Ladies Din and through his sons.

Kris was a different story. A son of the great sire, Sharpen Up out of Doubly Sure by Reliance, Kris is an own brother to champion two year old and leading sire Diesis and grade 1 sire Keen. Presidium and Rudimentary are group winning half brothers.

Kris was a great miler, winning 14 of 16 races, losing the 2000 Guineas to Tap On Wood and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, to Known Fact. Trained by Henry Cecil, Kris won the Sussex Stakes, St James Palace Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes among other races for owner, the late Lord Howard de Walden.

Kris was retired to stud at the end of his four year old season. He was champion sire with his first crop in 1985 and consistently sired group and stakes winners throughout his stud career. Known as an outstanding sire of fillies (like Diesis), Kris was also capable of siring good colts such as Sure Blade, Common Grounds, Flash Of Steel, Rivera and Shavian. Probably his best runner was Fillies Triple Crown heroine, Oh So Sharp.