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Shinko King, one of New Zealand's most popular sires, has succumbed to a lengthy battle with laminitis.
The Irish-bred son of Sadler's Wells' brother Fairy King started shuttling to NZ in 1998. He sttod first at Ashwell Farm before moving to Paxton Park in Cambridge in 2007.
“He was a terrific stallion, but sadly we had to have him put him down,” said Henk Smit of Paxton Park.
“Ten or 12 years ago he got laminitis in transit between Japan and New Zealand when he was shuttling for a couple of years.
"They got it under control, but he had deformed feet and it would flare up every once in a while and this time it got too bad.”Shinko King sired five Group One winners in three different countries.
His best in Australia was Eskimo Queen, the winner of the G1 Queensland Oaks and G1 Coolmore Classic,
He also sired Thumbs Up (Hong Kong Classic Mile), C'Est La Guerre (New Zealand Derby), Bramble Rose (New Zealand Oaks) and Barinka (NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes).
Shinko King was a G1 winner of eight races in Japan and also finished third to Catalan Opening in the Hong Kong International Bowl.
He was a half-brother to the English Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes winner Dr Devious and the G3 winner Archway, both successful sires.
