Benji King: Hard yards now, training success ahead

Cover image courtesy of Loveracing

Benji King always felt that he would end up working within the racing industry, but he may not have seen it as a trainer. Still, after extensive experience across different sectors, he has landed on that path and has been busy building the blocks to enable him to become a successful trainer.

A horse upbringing

Benji King is the eldest son of Nick and Anne-Marie King, who established Brighthill Farm in Waikato, New Zealand in 1996. Horses were a constant presence in his early life, and his thoroughbred education began long before any formal role in the industry.

“I was raised on the farm (Brighthill Farm), and it’s just what I knew as a kid growing up, and it was the same for my siblings,” King said.

“I was always keen on the horses, but I went through stages. When I first went to Australia, I was reasonably keen, but I wouldn’t say I was all in on the game. I guess I just went through patches, but my stay at Vinery really got me thinking that I could make a living out of the game in some way.”

Looking back, King thought he might follow the breeding and farming side more closely. Instead, he found his calling in the racing and education of young horses.

“Horses are challenging, and I like that aspect of preparing them to get to the racing stage, and going from there.”

The family thread

Fast-forward a couple of decades, and the King siblings are spread across the global industry, each in key roles.

“My brother Charlie went on the Darley Flying Start, and after finishing a couple of years ago, he’s now working at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. My other brother Harry is at Yulong Stud, and he reckons he’s running the show. Jokes aside, he’s doing very, very well in sales and nominations. And Dad’s still running Brighthill Farm,” King said.

Gallery: The King Family

“I’m still doing a fair bit of work with Dad at Brighthill too, with the breakers and helping out with farm work. I really enjoy that.

“Put it this way, with everyone involved in the game, and across all the sectors, it makes for some interesting WhatsApp group chats. It’s great; we all bounce off ideas and opinions. There’s no lack of them that's for sure.”

A Day in the life

In the past two seasons, King has officially stepped out on his own, training under his name. With only a small amountl of runners so far, he has already secured a couple of wins, and he’s clear about wanting to build on that momentum.

Alongside training, he’s busy educating young horses, both his own and those for a select group of owners and clients.

“My day’s pretty busy. I train my own team from around 5am till 7am, then I get stuck into early education of my own horses and a few for Te Akau and a couple of other owners,” he said.

“Then I’m off to the farm (Brighthill) to do any educating there, and whatever farm work needs doing.

“Then it’s a bit of sleep and do it all again the next day. It’s busy and hard work, but I love it, and it’s all preparation for future racing stock, so that is exciting.”

Shaped by mentors

King is quick to credit the many people who have guided his development as a horseman.

“My dad has put so much time into me and my siblings — he really set the base and laid the foundations,” King said. “I was also lucky enough to work for Mark Todd, and he was great in all parts of the game, particularly with riding.

“At Vinery, Dave White and Jose Ramos played a big part in teaching me about respect. They helped me grow up, I was a bit rogue at times, but they were great at guiding me and keeping me in line.”

He also credits his time with Te Akau as formative.

“I was lucky enough to learn from Jamie Richards and Mark Walker — the Te Akau system is unbelievable.

“In recent times, Paul Richards has been very good to me. He’s treated me like a son and helped refine me, and I’m so grateful for that. He let me make mistakes, but then brought me back, and made sure I learned from them.”

Based at the Matamata Training Centre, King also benefits from a supportive peer network.

“Everyone is willing to help and give advice. I can always go and see the Wexford team (Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott), Ken Kelso, or Cody Cole. Everyone is happy to help, and everyone genuinely enjoys each other’s success.”

Early wins, future plans

King notched his first winner in July 2023 when Glenamaddy (NZ) (Preferment) broke her maiden at Hastings.

“The first one is always memorable, isn’t it?” he said. “To get the monkey off the back — and to do it with a homebred owned by myself, my father Nick, sister Sophie, and brothers Harry and Charlie — was a big thrill.”

His next win came courtesy of Mid Ocean (NZ) (Ocean Park), who was too good on debut. The filly is owned by the Dowager Duchess, a long-time family friend who continues to breed mares at Brighthill Farm. Mid Ocean is out of a half-sister to the influential stallion Tavistock (NZ).

“Mid Ocean was a big thrill — to win on debut and then to take her all the way through to the Oaks was huge,” King said.

“I had her earmarked as a straight-out sprinter, but Harry said, ‘She’s an Oaks filly if I’ve ever seen one.’ It was one of those times he was right, and the family WhatsApp had some use.”

Building Forward

With his foundations firmly laid, King is focused on quality as he looks to grow.

“I’d love to have a big focus on quality, stay busy enough, and build up to 15 to 20 horses. I have some awesome owners, but that number would be nice.”

At the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, King, under his Foxhill Thoroughbreds banner - purchased yearlings by Home Affairs, Hello Youmzain (Fr), and Vadamos (Fr). These join weanling purchases from the previous year by Turn Me Loose (NZ) and Sweynesse, giving King a strong group of rising 2-year-olds to develop.

It’s a full plate — but King wouldn’t have it any other way. With his background, support network, and growing experience, the hard yards now seem certain to pave the way for long-term success.