556:. Other targets, including the Sussex Stakes and the Waterford Crystal Mile came and went before he eventually returned in the Crown of Crowns Stakes, a minor race over a mile at Goodwood in September. He was somewhat reluctant to enter the starting stalls, but won by twelve lengths from moderate opposition to record his ninth consecutive victory. On his final appearance he attempted to win a second successive Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October and started favourite ahead of the 1980 2000 Guineas winner
422:-trained Young Generation. Looking very fit before the race he easily accounted for Hardgreen, but having his race seemingly won he was bustled up by Young Generation and Kris had to reassert himself before winning by three lengths. As the stable had already won the Craven Stakes with Lyphard's Wish, when stable jockey elected to ride Kris he became favourite for the
572:. The independent Timeform organisation gave him a rating of 123, placing him eleven pounds behind Tromos and commented that he would probably improve but would need to "settle much better ... to have any hope of staying much beyond a mile". In the following year, Kris was rated the fifth-best three-year-old in Europe, level with the French miler
387:. He won the race but finished he became "jarred up" on the hard ground and did not race again until the autumn. He returned in October for the Marston Moor Stakes at York, in which he was matched against five opponents, all of whom had winning form. He was among the leaders from the start and accelerated clear in the closing stages to win by eight
406:. On this occasion, Mercer adopted different tactics and attempted to restrain Kris in the early stages. He expended a great deal of energy struggling against his jockey's efforts and looked beaten when Hardgreen went to the front, but rallied strongly in the final strides to win by a neck, with a gap of eight lengths back to Saher in third.
544:
despite conceding seven pounds to his opponents. Looking very impressive before the race, Kris struggled to obtain a clear run in the closing stages but eventually gained the advantage in the closing stages to win by three quarters of a length from
Foveros. For the second time in succession, he set a
596:
described him as "most genuine, reliable and enthusiastic" and that he had dominated the mile division to a greater extent than any horse since
Brigadier Gerard. He was also named Champion Miler in the Gilbey Racing Awards, based on points accrued from performances in major races. In 1980, Timeform
481:. Starting the 4/5 favourite he took the lead two furlongs from the finish and drew away from his opponent to win by five lengths from Swiss Maid, with Alert in third. Over the same course and distance three weeks later, the colt started 3/10 favourite for the Group Two
287:
when attempting to repeat his previous win in the Queen
Elizabeth II Stakes. He retired from racing with a record of fourteen wins and two second places from sixteen starts. Kris went on to become a very successful breeding stallion, siring the classic winning fillies
829:
1156:
560:. Kris took the lead on the final turn and went two lengths clear but was eventually worn down by Known Fact and beaten a neck after "a tremendous battle". Kris' connections offered no excuses, admitting that they had been beaten by a very good horse on the day.
493:, Fair Season and Swiss Maid. He produced a strong finishing run to take the lead a furlong out and won by three-quarters of a length from Jellaby, with Foveros and Lightning Label close behind in third and fourth.
545:
new course record although his win was only confirmed after a stewards' inquiry into possible interference caused when he forced his way through the field to deliver his winning run.
592:. Timeform rated him more highly, making him their Best Miler of the season with a rating of 135, and the second best horse of any age, two pounds behind Troy. Timeform's annual
504:. He drew away in the last quarter mile to win by five lengths from Foveros, with Jellaby three lengths back in third. Despite rumors that he would move up in distance for the
313:
104:
1198:
1081:
1023:
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430:
and only just retained second in a close finish with Young
Generation, who appeared somewhat unlucky in running. Cecil decided to give Kris more experience before
1203:
1208:
516:
over seven furlongs at the same course. Starting at odds of 4/9 he broke the course record for a three-year-old as he won by two and a half lengths from the
641:, winner of the Epsom Oaks in 1987. Kris was retired from active stud duty in 2002 and died of heart failure two years later at the age of twenty-eight.
297:
212:
540:
he looked less than fully fit but won from three opponents and set a new course record. At
Newbury later that month he started 4/9 favourite for the
524:. The French colt won the French 2,000 Guineas and was dominant over one mile in France, beating Lyphard's Wish (Kris's stable companion) in the
895:
1065:
955:
923:
1213:
1107:
513:
272:
183:
1193:
1188:
434:
and he was sent to
Kempton where he won the Heron Stakes easily from Blue Refrain despite being hampered on the final turn.
568:
In the
International Classification for 1978, Kris was given a rating of 82, nine pounds behind the top-rated two-year-old
536:
As a four-year-old, Kris began his season with two runs in May. In the Cold
Shields Windows Trophy over seven furlongs at
525:
457:-trained Alert in third. In his next race, Kris was matched against older horses for the first time in the Group One
442:
256:
163:
520:
winner
Absalom. Although Kris easily defeated all his British rivals, he was never matched against his contemporary
453:. Kris led for most of the way and won by one and a half lengths from Young Generation with a long gap back to the
426:, despite reports that he had some training problems. In the race he was beaten half a length by the 20/1 outsider
497:
268:
178:
276:
372:
Kris ran four times as a two-year-old, winning all his starts. He began his racing career by winning a five
320:
and was the first foal of the broodmare Doubly Sure, making him a full brother to the champion two-year-old
548:
His season was disrupted by several minor injuries, including a muscle strain which ruled him out of the
333:
384:
249:
329:
601:. In the International Classification he was rated the fourth-best horse in Europe behind Moorestyle,
597:
rated him on 134, a pound behind their Best Miler Known Fact and three behind their Horse of the Year
486:
255:. He went on to dominate British racing over one mile for the rest of 1979, winning the Heron Stakes,
626:
509:
490:
423:
380:
309:
485:. Mercer again experimented with waiting tactics and turned into the straight in fifth place behind
462:
356:
665:
325:
677:
403:
399:
352:
237:
153:
512:
in
October, the colt was actually dropped back in trip to end the 1979 season with a run in the
617:
After being syndicated with a value of £4 million Kris stood at his owner's Thornton Stud near
1061:
951:
919:
891:
549:
470:
283:
but was off the course with injury problems for much of the season and was narrowly beaten by
855:
746:
712:
634:
606:
482:
431:
264:
240:, but was rated some way below the best of his generation. In the following year he won the
173:
58:
1112:
541:
505:
474:
446:
415:
392:
280:
241:
188:
158:
94:
692:
553:
501:
454:
450:
321:
140:
1182:
672:
638:
577:
517:
458:
293:
260:
168:
602:
581:
537:
388:
337:
252:
233:
230:
414:
On his debut as a three-year-old Kris started 11/10 favourite for the Group Three
622:
573:
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427:
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348:
289:
245:
122:
657:
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317:
284:
32:
1134:
589:
585:
391:
from Touch Boy. Later that month he was moved up in class and started the
786:
753:
466:
383:
in June. In the following month he carried top weight in a minor race at
236:. As a two-year-old in 1978 he was unbeaten in four races, including the
201:
68:
719:
373:
621:, before moving to the Plantation Stud at Newmarket in 1994. He sired
618:
569:
418:
at Newbury in which he was reopposed by Hardgreen, as well as the
445:
behind Young Generation who, since the Guineas, had won both the
344:
328:
and a half-brother to several other good winners including
496:
In late September Kris started 8/11 favourite for the
528:. Timeform rated Kris 4 lb. superior to Irish River.
552:
and prevented him moving up to ten furlongs for the
244:
on his debut before being defeated half a length by
195:
147:
136:
128:
118:
110:
100:
90:
82:
74:
64:
54:
46:
38:
28:
23:
500:at Ascot despite carrying seven pounds more than
347:. He was trained throughout his racing career by
650:Pedigree of Kris (GB), chestnut stallion, 1976
312:on his hind feet, bred in England by his owner
1051:
1049:
1047:
1045:
941:
939:
937:
935:
909:
907:
8:
441:in June he started second favourite for the
298:Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
213:Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
1108:"Champion Runner and Sire Kris Dead at 28"
308:Kris was a dark chestnut horse with white
20:
881:
879:
877:
875:
873:
1199:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
888:The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records
648:
821:
886:Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993).
355:and was ridden in all of his races by
1204:Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom
7:
972:"Thatching can prove Sussex stamina"
210:Champion European Older Miler (1980)
204:: 123 (1978), 135 (1979), 134 (1980)
1209:British Champion Thoroughbred Sires
343:The colt was named after a type of
16:British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse
14:
279:. As a four-year-old he won the
229:(1976–2004) was a British
465:in which he was opposed by the
351:at his Warren Place stable in
1:
890:. Breedon Books Publishing.
220:Last updated on 29 July 2022
208:Gilbey Champion Miler (1979)
410:1979: three-year-old season
345:double-edged Malayan dagger
275:, earning comparisons with
1230:
858:. Thoroughbredinternet.com
532:1980: four-year-old season
300:in 1985. He died in 2004.
206:Timeform Best Miler (1979)
114:9th Baron Howard de Walden
105:9th Baron Howard de Walden
1024:"The form points to Kris"
800:
785:
780:
767:
752:
745:
738:
725:
708:
703:
688:
671:
664:
654:
498:Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
368:1978: two-year-old season
269:Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
219:
200:
179:Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
152:
1137:. famousracehorses.co.uk
856:"Diesis' magic lives on"
443:St James's Palace Stakes
257:St James's Palace Stakes
164:St James's Palace Stakes
1214:Thoroughbred family 2-o
1056:Timeform staff (1981).
946:Timeform staff (1980).
914:Timeform staff (1979).
402:over seven furlongs at
248:when favourite for the
809:No Angel (Family:2-o)
483:Waterford Crystal Mile
265:Waterford Crystal Mile
174:Waterford Crystal Mile
1194:2004 racehorse deaths
1189:1976 racehorse births
1082:"Kris misses Eclipse"
385:Folkestone Racecourse
314:Lord Howard de Walden
381:Leicester Racecourse
1004:. 26 September 1980
651:
1058:Racehorses of 1980
948:Racehorses of 1979
916:Racehorses of 1978
649:
594:Racehorses of 1979
400:Horris Hill Stakes
395:favourite for the
353:Newmarket, Suffolk
316:. He was sired by
238:Horris Hill Stakes
154:Horris Hill Stakes
897:978-1-873626-15-3
830:"Diesis pedigree"
813:
812:
550:Queen Anne Stakes
224:
223:
1221:
1173:
1172:
1170:
1168:
1153:
1147:
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901:
883:
868:
867:
865:
863:
852:
846:
845:
843:
841:
826:
741:Doubly Sure (FR)
652:
625:, winner of the
514:Challenge Stakes
277:Brigadier Gerard
273:Challenge Stakes
184:Challenge Stakes
21:
1229:
1228:
1224:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1219:
1218:
1179:
1178:
1177:
1176:
1166:
1164:
1157:"Kris pedigree"
1155:
1154:
1150:
1140:
1138:
1133:
1132:
1128:
1118:
1116:
1113:The Blood-Horse
1106:
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828:
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758:Deux-Pour-Cent
749:
742:
740:
705:
689:Mixed Marriage
668:
661:
656:
647:
615:
566:
542:Lockinge Stakes
534:
506:Champion Stakes
475:Champion Stakes
447:Lockinge Stakes
416:Greenham Stakes
412:
370:
365:
306:
281:Lockinge Stakes
242:Greenham Stakes
211:
209:
207:
205:
202:Timeform rating
189:Lockinge Stakes
187:
182:
177:
172:
167:
162:
159:Greenham Stakes
157:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1227:
1225:
1217:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1181:
1180:
1175:
1174:
1148:
1126:
1099:
1088:. 19 June 1980
1073:
1066:
1041:
1015:
998:"Bank on Kris"
989:
978:. 31 July 1979
963:
956:
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869:
847:
820:
819:
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723:
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693:Tudor Minstrel
690:
686:
685:
681:
680:
675:
670:
663:
646:
643:
614:
611:
565:
562:
554:Eclipse Stakes
533:
530:
526:Prix du Moulin
502:weight-for-age
455:Clive Brittain
451:Prix Jean Prat
411:
408:
369:
366:
364:
361:
305:
302:
222:
221:
217:
216:
198:
197:
193:
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150:
149:
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138:
134:
133:
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126:
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36:
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26:
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15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1197:
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1190:
1187:
1186:
1184:
1162:
1158:
1152:
1149:
1136:
1130:
1127:
1115:
1114:
1109:
1103:
1100:
1087:
1086:Evening Times
1083:
1077:
1074:
1069:
1067:0-900599-31-6
1063:
1059:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1042:
1030:. 16 May 1980
1029:
1028:Evening Times
1025:
1019:
1016:
1003:
1002:Evening Times
999:
993:
990:
977:
976:Evening Times
973:
967:
964:
959:
957:0-900599-29-4
953:
949:
942:
940:
938:
936:
932:
927:
925:0-900599-27-8
921:
917:
910:
908:
904:
899:
893:
889:
882:
880:
878:
876:
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870:
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851:
848:
835:
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822:
815:
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803:
799:
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790:
788:
779:
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774:
770:
766:
762:
761:
757:
755:
748:
737:
733:
732:
728:
724:
721:
718:
717:
714:
711:
702:
699:Persian Maid
698:
697:
694:
691:
687:
683:
682:
679:
676:
674:
673:Native Dancer
667:
659:
653:
644:
642:
640:
637:in 1985, and
636:
632:
628:
627:1,000 Guineas
624:
620:
612:
610:
608:
604:
600:
595:
591:
587:
583:
579:
578:Three Troikas
576:, but behind
575:
571:
563:
561:
559:
555:
551:
546:
543:
539:
531:
529:
527:
523:
519:
518:Diadem Stakes
515:
511:
507:
503:
499:
494:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
459:Sussex Stakes
456:
452:
448:
444:
440:
435:
433:
429:
425:
424:2,000 Guineas
421:
417:
409:
407:
405:
401:
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
375:
367:
363:Racing career
362:
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339:
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323:
319:
315:
311:
303:
301:
299:
295:
291:
286:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
261:Sussex Stakes
258:
254:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
232:
228:
218:
214:
203:
199:
194:
190:
185:
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175:
170:
169:Sussex Stakes
165:
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155:
151:
146:
142:
139:
135:
131:
127:
124:
121:
117:
113:
109:
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99:
96:
93:
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86:Great Britain
85:
81:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
60:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
34:
31:
27:
22:
19:
1165:. Retrieved
1163:. 8 May 2012
1160:
1151:
1139:. Retrieved
1129:
1117:. Retrieved
1111:
1102:
1090:. Retrieved
1085:
1076:
1060:. Timeform.
1057:
1032:. Retrieved
1027:
1018:
1006:. Retrieved
1001:
992:
980:. Retrieved
975:
966:
950:. Timeform.
947:
918:. Timeform.
915:
887:
860:. Retrieved
850:
838:. Retrieved
836:. 8 May 2012
833:
824:
801:Sweet Angel
734:Chanterelle
616:
603:Ela-Mana-Mou
593:
567:
547:
538:Haydock Park
535:
495:
436:
413:
371:
342:
338:Sandown Mile
307:
253:2000 Guineas
231:Thoroughbred
226:
225:
18:
796:Crepuscule
781:Soft Angels
709:Rockefella
623:Oh So Sharp
613:Stud record
574:Irish River
522:Irish River
439:Royal Ascot
432:Royal Ascot
428:Tap On Wood
420:Guy Harwood
397:Group Three
377:maiden race
349:Henry Cecil
334:Rudimentary
290:Oh So Sharp
246:Tap On Wood
123:Henry Cecil
50:Doubly Sure
1183:Categories
1161:Equineline
834:Equineline
816:References
791:Donatello
726:Chambiges
678:Polynesian
658:Sharpen Up
631:Epsom Oaks
599:Moorestyle
564:Assessment
558:Known Fact
479:Swiss Maid
357:Joe Mercer
318:Sharpen Up
304:Background
296:and being
285:Known Fact
148:Major wins
132:16: 14-2-0
33:Sharpen Up
1167:18 August
1141:18 August
1119:18 August
1092:18 August
1034:19 August
1008:18 August
982:18 August
862:17 August
840:17 August
804:Honeyway
704:Rocchetta
635:St. Leger
590:Top Ville
586:Le Marmot
510:Newmarket
471:Thatching
330:Presidium
234:racehorse
39:Grandsire
787:Crepello
776:Polaire
768:Relance
754:Tantieme
747:Reliance
713:Hyperion
645:Pedigree
607:Argument
487:Radeztky
473:and the
467:July Cup
463:Goodwood
449:and the
137:Earnings
95:Chestnut
69:Stallion
59:Reliance
729:Majano
720:Rockfel
684:Geisha
491:Jellaby
477:winner
469:winner
404:Newbury
389:lengths
374:furlong
250:classic
143:195,670
119:Trainer
101:Breeder
83:Country
55:Damsire
1135:"Kris"
1064:
954:
922:
894:
771:Relic
763:Terka
619:Thirsk
570:Tromos
324:, and
322:Diesis
215:(1985)
196:Awards
191:(1980)
186:(1979)
181:(1979)
176:(1979)
171:(1979)
166:(1979)
161:(1979)
156:(1978)
129:Record
91:Colour
75:Foaled
783:1963
750:1962
743:1971
706:1961
669:1961
662:1969
639:Unite
310:socks
294:Unite
111:Owner
1169:2012
1143:2012
1121:2012
1094:2012
1062:ISBN
1036:2012
1010:2012
984:2012
952:ISBN
920:ISBN
892:ISBN
864:2012
842:2012
666:Atan
660:(GB)
655:Sire
633:and
605:and
588:and
582:Troy
332:and
326:Keen
292:and
271:and
227:Kris
78:1976
42:Atan
29:Sire
24:Kris
739:Dam
508:at
461:at
437:At
393:5/6
379:at
340:).
65:Sex
47:Dam
1185::
1159:.
1110:.
1084:.
1044:^
1026:.
1000:.
974:.
934:^
906:^
872:^
832:.
629:,
609:.
584:,
580:,
489:,
359:.
267:,
263:,
259:,
1171:.
1145:.
1123:.
1096:.
1070:.
1038:.
1012:.
986:.
960:.
928:.
900:.
866:.
844:.
336:(
141:£
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.