Queen's Plate pedigree analysis: King and His Court

Court Vision-Pennywhistle, by Grand Reward

(Bred in Ontario by Patricia Weber and Robert Weber)

King and His Court represents relatively uncharted territory for both his sire and dam, but the early returns have been overwhelmingly positive.

Canada’s champion 2-year-old male of 2016, King and His Court comes from the second crop of sire Court Vision and will be his first Queen’s Plate starter. He is also the first foal out of the winning broodmare Pennywhistle.

Queen's Plate win with King and His Court would cap Boulanger's comeback

Court Vision, who now stands in Louisiana, was Canada’s leading freshman sire in 2015. His debut class includes Crumlin Spirit, who has won or placed in stakes company seven times, and Hammers Vision, who finished third to eventual Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

The stallion’s second crop kept up the momentum, led by King and His Court, who has won three stakes and placed in a Grade 3 at Woodbine. Conquest Vivi, a two-time stakes winner as a juvenile, also came from Court Vision’s second book.

Court Vision was a turf standout who won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, the 2010 Woodbine Mile, and three other Grade 1 races. The son of Gulch raced at a distance shorter than a mile just once in 31 career starts and proved his class on dirt with wins in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes and Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes.

Pennywhistle, a daughter of Grand Reward, won her maiden at 5 1/2 furlongs and never raced longer than six furlongs in her eight starts.

King and His Court has shown versatility as Pennywhistle’s first starter, winning at distances ranging from five furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

Happy Victory, Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly of 1972, is in the gelding’s extended family.