The sire was none other than the incomparable Secretariat, the Kingston legacy eternal

As a 2 year-old, under the guidance of renowned trainer Bob Hoysted, Rose of Kingston took out the AJC Champagne Stakes and the VRC Oaks. The following year, the filly became the first three year-old in 38 years to win the AJC Derby against the colts. Rose of Kingston rounded out her career with wins in the VRC Craiglee Stakes, the South Australian Derby and the Queen of the South Stakes, and was deservedly crowned the 1982 Australian Horse of the Year. The captivating narrative of her racing life and the subsequent Kingston breeding lineage history is a compelling story worth telling.

In 1977-78, Dormello Stud sold one of its stallions, Claude (1964), to David Hains and the stallion took up duties at Kingston Park. Mr. Hains, an Australian entrepreneur, acquired Kingston Park Farm in 1959. He embarked on a thoroughbred breeding programme enlisting the assistance of Mr. Norman Von Nida, a seasoned professional golfer from Brisbane, known for his short-tempered nature. There Claude was bred to Kingston Rose, a granddaughter of My Babu (1945), acquired as a 2 year-old by Hains in 1973. Racing in the Kingston Park silks, Kingston Rose had won six races at distances from 5 to 8 furlongs (1000 -1600m) before her retirement. As a dam, her second offspring would demonstrate exceptional capabilities and prove to be a gifted competitor on the Australian turf. Kingston Rose and Claude’s little daughter was a chestnut as bright as a new copper penny, with great bone and an intelligent, decidedly feminine head.

Rose of Kingston had a brilliant career on the turf, retired and was despatched to Lexington, Kentucky, where David Hains had set up his Kingston Park Stud. By the time she arrived in the USA, there were a number of stallions that her owner was keen to have the broodmare visit. High on the agenda was a date with the great Secretariat, which took place in 1985 at Claiborne Farm, where the legend piled his trade. Big Red, as he was known, was an American champion - the 9th winner of the American Triple Crown, setting and still holding the fastest time recorded in all three of its constituent races. He is widely considered to be the greatest racehorse of all time. He became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and his record-breaking victory in the Belmont Stakes, which he won by 31 lengths, is often considered the greatest race ever run by a thoroughbred racehorse. It is truly awe-inspiring.

Rose of Kingston (1978) had come into the world as the result of the connection between golfer and racing enthusiast, Norman Von Nida, and the brilliant horse breeder, Frederico Tesio. Although his name is less talked about today, in the first half of the twentieth century, Tesio, the owner of Dormello Stud in Italy, achieved remarkable success in breeding thoroughbred horses. His expertise and dedication brought him close to producing the ideal thoroughbred, demonstrating his exceptional skills in equine breeding. Putting his breeding acumen into practice, Tesio bred many champions - the most influential of which were Donatello II (1934), Nearco (1935) and Ribot (1952). Happy for the breed to spread worldwide, Tesio was not inclined to jealously hold on to either his breeding theories or the champion bloodlines. Without Nearco’s sons, Nasrullah (1940), Nearctic (1954) and Royal Charger (1942) its impossible to imagine the modern thoroughbred as we know it today.

Von Nida attended auctions in the Southern Hemisphere looking for Nearco and/or Ribot bloodstock, convinced that these bloodlines would be a perfect match with the right Southern Hemisphere mare. Von Nida’s faith in the Tesio breeding method turned Kingston Park Farm into a successful enterprise. In the 1970s travelling to Italy, he bought six Dormello broodmares for Kingston Park. One of these, the German breed mare, Ada Hunter (1970), a granddaughter of Ribot, became the dam of one of the greatest Australian horses of the last century, the mighty Kingston Town, by the sire and brilliant Australian sprinter, Bletchingly (Biscay). Kingston Rose was also bred with Bletchingly to produce a fine specimen in, Spirit of Kingston, foaled in 1981, who was highly successful and named Victorian horse of the year 1984/85. She was retired to stud and sent to the USA where she had five foals up until 1995. Her most successful offspring is Portland Player who won the Victorian Derby in 1996.

Rose of Kingston’s future offspring would therefore boast Tesio thoroughbreds on both the top and bottom of its pedigree. With Secretariat as the sire and the Kingston pedigree lineage, a champion racehorse should surely emerge. The foal's striking coppery-red hue was a reflection of it's parents' exceptional DNA. The colt also sported two white feet and a wide blaze down the centre. Rose of Kingston’s colt was christened Kingston Rule and sent off to France, to the stable of noted trainer Patrick Biancone. However, the flashy chestnut who physically so resembled Secretariat that it was uncanny, showed little promise. David Hains then shipped Kingston Rule back to Australia and into the hands of the great Tommy Smith, who had trained the Hains’ fabulous gelding, Kingston Town. In his first start at Warwick Farm in 1989 over a heavy track, Kingston Rule finished a ridiculous 35 lengths behind the winner, prompting the trainer to advise Hains to geld the three year-old in the hopes of getting more out of him.

Shortly thereafter, Hains moved Kingston Rule to the stables of one of Australia’s most notable trainers, Bart Cummings. Under the firm and patient conditioning of Cummings, Kingston Rule demonstrated suitable progress. His initial triumph occurred at Sandown in 1990, followed by a significant victory in the prestigious Gr.2 Moonee Valley Cup. This win ultimately secured his participation in the renowned Melbourne Cup. As he does with all his horses, Cummings employed great diligence, ensuring that Kingston Rule was run on firm turf, a surface that appeared to be optimal for the horse's performance. In his run-up to Melbourne, Kingston Rule also finished second in a pair of quality stakes races. A youthful Darren Beadman demonstrated exceptional riding skills in the Cup, overcoming an unfavourable start, a bumping dual during the race, and the subsequent loss of ground. Kingston Rule ran his heart out to win, stopping the clock in record time that stands to this day - surely a tribute to the deeds of his famous, record breaking father. Most elite thoroughbred racehorses will achieve something spectacular just once in their racing lives - it may come early or late in their galloping careers, but whenever it happens, it is this achievement that defines them for all of time. It is with great admiration that we recall a series of remarkable achievements in the world of horse racing. Instances such as Secretariat's almost unbelievable triumph in the Belmont Stakes, Personal Ensign's valiant victory in the Breeders Cup despite terrible conditions, and So You Think's consecutive triumphs in the prestigious Cox Plate stand as testaments to the sport's captivating history. Kingston Rule’s Melbourne Cup was such a moment, and the Kingston legacy lives on forever.

Rose of Kingston

Race Record - 10 wins

Earnings - A$591,660

Champagne Stakes (1981)

Coolmore Stud Stakes (1981)

Crown Oaks (1981)

Australasian Oaks (1982)

Australian Derby (1982)

Coongy Handicap (1982)

Craiglee Stakes (1982)

Kingston Rule

Race Record - 18: 4-4-2

Earnings - A$1,549,125

Tommy Woodcock Handicap

H A Currie Handicap

Moonee Valley Cup (1990)

Melbourne Cup (1990)

Secretariat

Race Record - 21: 16-3-1

Earnings - $1,316,808

Triple Crown race wins:

Kentucky Derby (1973)

Preakness Stakes (1973)

Belmont Stakes (1973)

Sanford Stakes (1972)

Hopeful Stakes (1972)

Futurity Stakes (1972)

Laurel Futurity (1972)

Garden State Futurity (1972)

Bay Shore Stakes (1973)

Gotham Stakes (1973)

Arlington Invitational (1973)

Marlboro Cup (1973)

Man o' War Stakes (1973)

Canadian International (1973)

Spirit Of Kingston

Race Record - 25: 6-3-7

Earnings - $417,000

VRC Oaks

Rosehill Guineas

Black Opal Stakes

Canterbury Guineas

Edward Manifold Stakes

Kingston Town

Race Record - 41: 30-5-2

Earnings - A$1,605,790

Spring Champion Stakes (1979)

Rosehill Guineas (1980)

AJC Derby (1980)

H E Tancred Stakes (1980)

Sydney Cup (1980)

Queensland Derby (1980)

Warwick Stakes (1980, 1981, 1982)

W. S. Cox Plate (1980, 1981, 1982)

George Main Stakes (1981, 1982)

Caulfield Stakes (1981, 1982)

Western Mail Classic (1982)