Kris (horse)

Kris
SireSharpen Up
GrandsireAtan
DamDoubly Sure
DamsireReliance
SexStallion
Foaled1976
CountryGreat Britain
ColourChestnut
Breeder9th Baron Howard de Walden
Owner9th Baron Howard de Walden
TrainerHenry Cecil
Record16: 14-2-0
Earnings£195,670
Major wins
Horris Hill Stakes (1978)
Greenham Stakes (1979)
St James's Palace Stakes (1979)
Sussex Stakes (1979)
Waterford Crystal Mile (1979)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1979)
Challenge Stakes (1979)
Lockinge Stakes (1980)
Awards
Timeform rating: 123 (1978), 135 (1979), 134 (1980)
Timeform Best Miler (1979)
Gilbey Champion Miler (1979)
Champion European Older Miler (1980)
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland (1985)
Last updated on 29 July 2022

Kris (1976–2004) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 1978 he was unbeaten in four races, including the Horris Hill Stakes, but was rated some way below the best of his generation. In the following year he won the Greenham Stakes on his debut before being defeated half a length by Tap On Wood when favourite for the classic 2000 Guineas. He went on to dominate British racing over one mile for the rest of 1979, winning the Heron Stakes, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Waterford Crystal Mile, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Challenge Stakes, earning comparisons with Brigadier Gerard. As a four-year-old he won the Lockinge Stakes but was off the course with injury problems for much of the season and was narrowly beaten by Known Fact 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 Oh So Sharp and Unite and being Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1985. He died in 2004.