Koala King

Koala King was a former champion Australian Standardbred pacing horse of the 1970s and 80s who won a host of Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit and feature races including the 1980 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship at Harold Park Paceway and the 1981 A G Hunter Cup. He won a record 40 races at the old Harold Park Paceway prior to its closure. Koala King won a total of seventy eight races.

Koala King
BreedStandardbred
DisciplinePacing
SireKoala Frost
GrandsireRaider Frost
DamTawain
Maternal grandsireU Scott
SexStallion
Foaled1972
CountryAustralia
ColorBay
BreederG. Archer & D. Flynn, NSW
OwnerMr & Mrs Ray Wisbey
TrainerRay Wisbey
Earnings
$680,110
Major wins
Group one wins:
1981 A G Hunter Cup
1980 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
1979, 1980 Qld Sir Clive Uhr Championship
1978, 1979, 1980 Vic Winfield Cup
1980 Vic Winfield Gold Cup
Awards
1979 Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit Champion
1979 Australian 4YO+ Pacer of the Year
Other awards
1979 Stake Earner of the Year (Pacers)
Last updated on: 20 August 2011.

He was a bay colt foaled in 1972 that was sired by Koala Frost from Tawain by U Scott (USA) from Jacinta by Protector from Cavatina by Arion Axworthy (USA) from Dilworth by Travis Axworthy (USA) from Muriel Dillon by Harold Dillon (USA) from Muriel Madison (USA) by James Madison from Dolly by Memo from Marguerite by Speculation. The future champion was purchased from the sales in the early 1970s for the modest sum of $1,300.

Racing record

Koala King was owned and trained by a South Coast trainer Ray Wisbey and his wife. Koala King was driven in the early part of his career by Kevin Robinson before Brian Hancock took the reins for many of his feature race wins.

On 28 July 1978 at Harold Park Koala King, the race favourite, was in the centre of major error when his driver Kevin Robinson mistook the laps in the main event. Robinson thought there was another lap to the finish when the field was in fact already at the finish. The crowd jeered the driver, but the stewards said it was an honest mistake but they suspended Robinson for six months.[1]

Koala King contested the national hero and sentimental favourite Paleface Adios in the 39th Inter Dominion held in 1980 at Sydney. Paleface Adios was already a winner of over 100 races and eight Inter Dominion heats, but was denied victory in the championship final by a brilliant Koala King.

During his racing career Koala King competed and defeated some of the best pacers ever in Gammalite, Pure Steel and Michael Frost (also a son of Koala Frost) Koala King's total race earnings were $680,110.[2]

Stud record

The most notable of Koala King’s progeny were:

  • Brunei Achilles, won $23,450
  • Copper Regent 1:58.8 $88,749
  • Jilliby Diamond 1987 F 2:07.7 $5,852; dam of Jilliby Spirit (won $415,382)
  • Koala Sunrise (US)$308,396
  • Palais Queen $6,328[2]
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See also

References
  1. Whitaker, Bill (13 May 2005). "Robinson: master trainer out in front until the end". Sydney Morning Herald. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. "Classic Families". Syntax Software Pty Ltd. Pepper Tree Farm (sponsor). Retrieved 23 August 2011.
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