New Zealand Horse of the Year King’s Chapel has been sold to stand in South Africa.  

King’s Chapel (King Of Kings) was retired to Windsor Park in 2005 after a career that garnered G1 victories in the NZ 2000 Guineas at Riccarton and Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.

“After careful consideration, we decided the offer provided a greater opportunity for King’s Chapel to further his stud career,” Windsor Park’s Nelson Schick said.  “His progeny will be well suited by conditions in South Africa.”

King’s Chapel made an immediate impact at stud siring King’s Ransom to a G2 victory in the 2009 Wakefield Stakes.  However, his first crop are now rising five year-olds and his current statistics are disappointing.  He has sired 28 winners of 51 races at 41% strike rate.

Those figures fall short of the standard required at Windsor Park which is home to champion sires Thorn Park and Volksraad.