One of last weekend’s most impressive victories was that recorded by exciting two-year-old Bedouin Express who raced away with the opening event at Morphettville.

Having only his fourth start, the Ricky Maund trained son of Desert King settled last and over the concluding stages rounded up his rivals with ease – quickly putting nearly five lengths on them.  That victory came eight days after Bedouin Express caught the eye in a Victorian maiden, again finishing on strongly from last – leading Best Bet’s form analysts to declare that “he has a super finish!”

An exciting type in the making, Bedouin Express hails from the first Victorian crop of the triple Gr.1 winner Desert King and his success augers well for the stallion’s continued popularity in that state.

“Bedouin Express was extremely impressive,” said Lynden Park Stallions’ Julie Nairn who stands Desert King at Bombora Downs, “and he is bred to get better and better.”

“Just wait till he and the others from Desert King’s first Victorian crop turn three and they will really start to come out of the woodwork!”

Whilst Desert King is best known as a stallion whose progeny improve with time, he has always fared well with his youngsters – over 14% of his winners successful at two.  And he was of course an outstanding juvenile himself, at that age racing on five occasions and recording two victories (a maiden by three lengths and the National Stakes-Gr.1) and two seconds.

There is no denying however that Desert King’s progeny are at their best at three and beyond – Makybe Diva and Desert War shining examples of how those with a bit of patience can be rewarded.

Missing two seasons (2003 and 2004), Desert King has not been represented by large numbers of runners in Australia of late but his progeny have been firing overseas – Storytelling (successful at two of her last three), Tosho Desert and Blue Bedouin recent winners in Japan, Sopran King recording his ninth victory in Italy and High Tide Kid winning two in a row (and three of his last four) in Macau.

Some 42 of Desert King’s Victorian bred youngsters have been named and are in work with such outstanding trainers as David Hayes, Chris Hyland, Gerald Ryan, Phillip Stokes, Heath Conners, Jason Warren, Greg Eurell and Russell Cameron.

The sire of 26 stakes winners (including the Gr.1 winners Makybe Diva, Desert War, Lachlan River, Mr Dinos, Darsalam and Chelsea Rose) and 34 stakes placegetters, Desert King is a truly international stallion with stakes winners in Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Germany and Norway – and winners in Italy, America, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Dubai, Spain and Switzerland.

Nearly 86% of Desert King’s named foals make it to the track, a figure that stacks up well against his own sire Danehill’s 87%. And Desert King fares best in Australia where his winners-to-runners strike rate is an excellent 60.8%.  Proving popular with Victorian breeders and certain to again prove so this spring, Desert King is well looked after at Bombora where Christoph Bruechert is proud to have him on his roster.

“During uncertain times having a well proven stallion with a loyal following is a god-send,” he said.

“With six Group One winners and four champions to his credit thus far, Desert King is just such a horse and I am very lucky to have him here on Bombora Downs.”
Desert King stands the 2009 season at $9,900 with a new “flexi” free return on offer.

Permalink| Jul 22, 2009

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