By Bloodhorse.com
HOKKAIDO, Japan (July 2, 2016) – King Glorious, a California-bred multiple grade I winner and successful sire, has passed away at the age of 30 in Japan, Kate Hunter of Paca Paca Farms shared via Twitter July 2.
A son of Naevus out of Glorious Natalie, by Reflected Glory, King Glorious had been pensioned from stud duty at JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station since 2010 due to declining fertility.
King Glorious won eight of his nine career starts in the United States, including his first six outings consecutively, capped by a 21-length triumph in the Piedmont Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. He owned wins in the 1988 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), after which he was named California’s Horse of the Year. At age 3, his missed the Triple Crown series, but he captured the 1989 Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) and Ohio Derby (gr. II). Overall, he won five graded stakes.
King Glorious was bred by the Halo Farms of Ted Aroney, who campaigned him with Alan Magerman of Philadelphia. He was the breakout horse, the first grade I winner, for eventual Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Aroney acquired King Glorious’ dam, Glorious Natalie, in foal to Naevus for $6,700 at a California auction. The colt RNA’ed at $6,500 at a 1987 California yearling sale and went on to earn $1,175,650 in two seasons of racing before he was sold in 1989 to Japanese Bloodhorse Breeders Association. He stood the majority of his career at their primary stallion facility in Shizunai on the island of Hokkaido..
From 21 crops racing, King Glorious is the sire of seven-black-type winners among 595 winners of 2,519 races, topped by group winners Wonder Speed, Max Can Do, Bold Emperor, and Namujro Kokuo.