3 minute read
King Power Racing was established in 2017 by the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
The Thai billionaire, who built his fortune through his King Power travel retail group, was tragically killed in a helicopter crash outside Leicester City's King Power Stadium on October 27, 2018.
At the time of his death, Srivaddhanaprabha had a reported worth of US$4.9 billion.
He is survived by a wife and four children and his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, a talented polo player, is now the CEO and Chairman of King Power, as well as the Chairman of Leicester City Football Club.
The first of three horses purchased, included Beat The Bank who provided King Power Racing with its first winner in a conditions race at Newmarket on April 18, 2017.
Later that year, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who acts as King Power's racing manager, made a splash on the eve of Royal Ascot at the Goffs London Sale by buying six lots for a total outlay of just over £2 million.
Later that summer, Beat The Bank went onto win the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Subsequently, King Power Racing continued to invest heavily, and bought a large number of yearlings that autumn, in particular at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017, Srivaddhanaprabha and Donald spending around £16 million on yearlings.
In 2018, Donald repeated at the Goffs London Sale, buying another six horses for just over £2.1 million ahead of Royal Ascot, before that autumn buying yearlings at all the major sales for another seven-figure spend.
A week after the 2018 Tattersalls October yearling sales had concluded, Srivaddhanaprabha was killed.
The decision was taken by the family to continue with its racing interests and King Power now as a string of over 90 horses, many with Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding, while others are handled by Tim Easterby, Ralph Beckett, Sir Michael Stoute, Tom Dascombe, David Elsworth, Richard Hannon and Karl Burke.
Flagship runners for King Power Racing include Beat The Bank, who is now a multiple Group 2-winning miler, and Bangkok. The three-year-old colt is due to run in today's King Edward V Stakes having finished 12th of 14 in the Derby. Balding reported that the son of Australia failed to handle the unique undulations of the Epsom course
Britain's champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa is retained by King Power Racing, an agreement which began earlier this year, de Sousa has now ridden 26 winners for King Power. King Power has had 29 winners through 2019 so far.
The Royal Meeting was always a hugely important target for Srivaddhanaprabha, and King Power has yet to have a winner at Royal Ascot. It would be poignant if that success could come this year.
Ahead of day four, at this year's meeting King Power has had 11 runners with two best-placed seconds - Fox Champion in the Hampton Court Stakes (G3) and Beat The Bank in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1).
The owner has three runners today, with the best chance looking to be with Bangkok (12/1) in the King Edward V Stakes and Johnny Drama (11/1) in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap.
On day five tomorrow, King Power has eight runners, with representatives in all six races. Happy Power (6/1) in the Jersey Stakes and Cleonte (5/1) in the week's finale, Queen Alexandra Stakes are the best priced of the octet.
King Power's runners at Royal Ascot day four:
3.05 King Edward VII Stakes (G2) Bangkok 12/1
5.00 Sandringham Handicap Aim Power 50/1
5.35 Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap Johnny Drama 11/1 and Pivoine 28/1
King Power's runners at Royal Ascot day five:
2.30 Chesham Stakes (L) Sun Power 12/1
3.05 Jersey Stakes (G3) Bye Bye Hong Kong 10/1 and Happy Power 6/1
3.40 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) Morando 12/1
4.20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) Donjuan Triumphant 40/1
5.00 Wokingham Handicap Stone Of Destiny 25/1 and Straight Right 20/1
5.35 Queen Alexandra Stakes Cleonte 5/1
