Fanfare over King Of Swing’s first winner

Bruce Stewart Journalist

New Zealand bred Australian based stallion King Of Swing produced his first winner today when Fanfare (King Of Swing) held on to beat a late charging Guess Who in the Macca Lodge New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes Prelude at Gore today.

Trained by Bob Butt and sent south to Lauren Pearson’s Winton stable, the two year old was made hot favourite on the back of two good seconds at Addington.

Driver Brent Barclay speared Fanfare off the mobile arm and took up the role of pacemaker.

“It was a small field and he was hot favourite so we had to give him every chance. He over raced in the first 600 so that’s probably why he wasn’t so impressive at the end,” Barclay said.

At the end of the 1700 metre trip Fanfare had a head to spare over first starter Guess Who.

“That was his first run with the blinds on so we’ll probably take them off for the Kindergarten. I’ll recommend it to the trainer and see what he has to say.”

The $50,000 Group Three Kindergarten Stakes will he run at the Young Quinn Raceway at Wyndham next Sunday.

“I’d like to sit him on the back of something, because he feels like he’ll be quite speedy.”

Fanfare was bred by Davie and Catherine Butt of Birchwood Breeding and Jackie and Penny Butt.

She’s out of Ovaride, making Fanfare a half-brother to Minstrel, the winner of thirty one races and $2 million.

King Of Swing is the richest son of Rocknroll Hanover and was named 2020 and 2021 Australian Horse of the Year.  He won three Miracle Miles, two Hunter Cups and two Allied Express Sprints - all Group One features. His other Group One wins were in the Schweppes Sprint, Black A Fake, WA Derby and the Breeders Crown Two Year Old Colts and Geldings Final. He won forty four races in total and earned $3.3 million.

In New Zealand King Of Swing has fifteen two year olds on the ground, eight yearlings and six foals. Whilst in Australia he has two hundred and ninety seven live foals.

He stands at Cobbity Equine Farm in New South Wales.