Champion Sire King Kamehameha Dead at 18

Mark Smith - Sunday August 11

Less than two weeks after the loss of Deep Impact, Shadai Stallion Station suffered another blow with the death on Saturday of King Kamehameha (Kingmambo), the twice leading sire in Japan in 2010 and 2011.

Purchased as a foal for 78 million yen by Makoto Kaneko, King Kamehameha was crowned Japanese champion 3-year-old in 2004, highlighted by his win the Japanese Derby.

Recently pensioned, King Kamehameha had been on restricted duties since 2016.

He is the sire of Japanese champions Leontes, Duramente, Rey De Oro, Lovely Day, the fillies' Triple Crown winner Apapane, Hong Kong Group 1 victor Rulership and the champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa who has made an exceptional start to his stud career as the sire of the champion Almond Eye.

King Kamehameha's breeder Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm told the Racing Post: "I heard he passed at 5am. In the past five years his condition had improved and then got worse again. His sight was poor because of a cataract.

Advertisement

"Although two huge stars have gone, they have left successors for the next generation. King Kamehameha made a tremendous contribution not only to this farm but also to the Japanese racing scene. I would like to say thank you very much to him."

Following his two sire championships, King Kamehameha was a perennial runner-up to Deep Impact but he was also the Japanese Champion Two-Year-Old Sire in 2008 and 2009.

Advertisment
More Reading...
I Am Invincible Sprinter wins $1million Archer - Inglis Graduates Trifecta
A weekend that dreams are made of for Neil Jenkinson was today capped off with Easter yearling Lubrication (I Am Invincible) winning the $1m The Archer at Rockhampton.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets Inglis Weanling Sale Alight
The first session of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on Monday produced a new overall record price for this sale when a filly by Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside sold for $650,000.
Sires With Winners - Sunday May 4
Here is the full list of 51 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Godolphin Again - Unbeaten Desert Flower Wins Newmarket 1000 Guineas
The stars continue to align for Sheikh Mohammed with the Godolphin blue again in the winner’s circle in the UK overnight with undefeated filly Desert Flower taking out the Group I Newmarket 1000 Guineas (1m).
Windsor Park Delighted with First SW Circus Maximus
Promising youngster Towering Vision crowned a successful couple of days for Windsor Park Stud when he credited resident sire Circus Maximus with his first Southern Hemisphere black-type winner.
Magic Millions Off-The-Track Cup Prizemoney Increases to $100,000
Magic Millions co-owner, Katie Page-Harvey and Queensland Off-The-Track Chair, Dr Christine Johnson today confirmed the prizemoney pool for the 2026 QOTT Cup will increase to $100,000.
Growing Empire Retires to Yulong and Fee Set
One of the most exciting colts of his generation, Growing Empire, will join Yulong Stud’s stallion roster for the 2025 breeding season.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
A busy set of trials at Randwick this morning saw Group I winning stallion Schwarz win a heat in good style in preparation for a Queensland trip, while on the juvenile front there were also a couple of carnival aspirants.
New HK Stakes-Winner Shamus Award
John Size and Zac Purton combined to win the Group III The Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with up and coming stayer Bundle Award.
Campionessa Retired - How Much for the G1 Winning Mare?
Group One-winning mare Campionessa has been retired from racing and will be offered at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale later this month.