Arrowfield Stud champion Redoute’s Choice sired his 19th Group 1 winner when King’s Rose won a dramatic renewal of the NZ One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton Park on Saturday.

King’s Rose (3f Redoute’s Choice – Nureyev’s Girl by Nureyev) unleashed a powerful finish to take claim the classic but correct weight was a long time coming due to three protests.  Worst affected was race favourite We Can Say It Now (Starcraft) who was elevated to fourth behind the minor placegetters Twilight Savings (Secret Savings) and Smoulder (Traditionally).

King’s Rose is raced by owner-breeder Gene Tsoi.  The Hong Kong-based medico also raced Encosta De Lago mare Elegant Fashion who was a G2 winner at Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley before transferring off-shore to capture the G1 Hong Kong Derby.

King’s Rose was an easy debut winner at Taupo 12 months ago when trained by Mark Walker.  Te Akau’s New Zealand trainer Jason Bridgman took over her preparation this season and she responded with a Listed victory in the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton on October 17.

“She gave me a nice feel that day and I always knew she was going to improve,” jockey Opie Bosson said.  “She’s just getting better and better.”

The Guineas winner is from Australian bred Nureyev mare Nureyev’s Girl.  She was stakes-placed at Morphettville and is a winning half-sister to Randwick stakes winner Roanoke (Danehill).

King’s Rose is one of five stakes winners this season for Redoute’s Choice following Rekindled Interest, Kittens, Milestone and Drumbeats.

The Arrowfield champion currently leads the Australian 3YO Sires’ list by prizemoney ($1.10 million) and winners (22) and is now second on the equivalent New Zealand list with five 3YO winners and earnings of $224,525.

Of Redoute’s Choice’s 19 Group 1 winners, 14 have won at that level as 3YOs.