KING’S Theatre reigns again as the champion National Hunt sire for 2015-16. The former Ballylinch Stud stallion, a Group 1 winner at two and three and a son of Sadler’s Wells, was bred to be a champion sire.

While his racing performances and pedigree suggested he would take high order among the flat stallions, he will forever be remembered as one of the most influential sires of National Hunt performers. That said, he did get the Grade 1 winner King’s Drama, Group 2 Australian winners Royal Code and I Rock My World, and the Group 3 winners Young Mick, Red Rioja and King’s Ironbridge on the level. His listed winning son Great Pretender is now a leading NH sire of Ptit Zig and Mr Mole.

While his flat record of winners is admirable, his list of outstanding National Hunt performers is one that will continue to grow for many years to come. His final crop are four-year-olds and they number something in excess of 80. His death came at the age of 20.

Three Grade 1 winners by King’s Theatre in the last season were Cue Card, the extremely popular Punchestown winner Carlingford Lough and Bellshill. Among his major earners were Theatre Guide, The New One, Shaneshill, Diamond King and L’Ami Serge. Menorah and Royal Regatta were also among his highly rated winners.

Going back over the years, and the names of his major winners reads like a who’s who of jump racing. Among those to make their mark, and not already mentioned above, were Captain Chris, Riverside Theatre, Voler La Vedette, Baily Green, The Druids Nephew, Balthazar King, Fingal Bay, Wichita Lineman, Glens Melody, Royal Shakespeare, Nobody Told Me and Nas Na Riogh.

King’s Theatre raced for four seasons and won five times. His Group 1 win in the Racing Post Trophy at two was followed the next year with a win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was runner-up in the Epsom Derby to Erhaab and then found the exceptional filly Balanchine too good when occupying the same position at the Curragh in the Irish Derby.

Bred and raced at two by Michael Poland, King’s Theatre was trained by Sir Henry Cecil and then at three carried the colours of Sheikh Mohammed. He was handled in America by Bill Mott and returned to Europe to be trained by Saeed bin Suroor and race for Godolphin.

He was the best of four winners bred by Regal Beauty, all but one of which were stakes winners. The others included the Shirley Heights colt High Estate and he was the champion European two-year-old, despite not winning a Group 1 race. His victories included the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes and a trio of Group 3 races – the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and the Solario Stakes at Sandown.

At the time of his death in 2011 King’s Theatre commanded a fee of €9,000, having started his stud career at IR6,000gns.