Kontiki the Great

By Arlene Magid

Kontiki was bred by Dr Lloyd or Doris Rosenvold and was owned during his racing career by Christopher or Valeene Hampton-Wilcox, and subsequently by Mr and Mrs Stanley Kubela, for whom he sired the bulk of his registered foals. He was born in 1962 and tragically died at age 10 in 1972 of colic. His remarkable race record is 3/9 (8-1-0)+6. He was also named 1972 Scottsdale Reserve Champion Stallion shortly before his death, proving that beauty and racing talent are not mutually exclusive!

Kontiki was a racing legend and the most significant sire in the foundation racing pedigrees in America. He established an unmatched dynasty in foundation American racing bloodlines. Beaten only once (by the Polish import *Orzel++), Kontiki was such an exceptional racehorse that he was honored by the Thoroughbred Jockey Club as the 59th entry in the prestigious ist of “100 All Time Greatest Racehorse of the World-Regardless of Breed"” along with Man O-War, Native Dancer, Kelso, Secretariat and John Henry. He was also named U.S. National Champion Racehorse and a member of the Arabian Horse Trust Hall of Fame.

Kontiki’s sire, 1967 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure winner Camelot++, also sired Hamlet, whose race record is 2/15(4-2-4). Camelot was by National winner sire Seneyn (who was linebred to the Skowronek son *Raseyn) and out of Shamara, a daughter of National Champion sire Ankar and a maternal sister to National winner producers Buna and Panaya. Kontiki’s dam Almiki also produced Waikiki,and Bar Miki, both producers of race and show winners. Waikiki’s daughter Ki Hattie+/ is a multi-National Champion in trail and dressage. Bar Miki’s daughter Smooth As Silk is a National winner in cutting and has produced a National Champion in cutting. Almiki was by Abu Farwa, sire of 3 National winners in performance and 33 producers of National winners. Thus Kontiki’s athleticism was no accident-it was bred into him for many generations.

Kontiki sired just 23 registered purebred get, all but two of them foaled in 1972 and 1973. Sixteen of these were daughters. Five were race winners. Fourteen have produced race winners-a remarkable percentage of 87% of his daughters produced race winners. Ten of his daughters produced stakes winners.

Daughter Tikis Lilly Ku is a race winner and the dam of stakes winner Soaring Tiki Tu and race winners Soaring Sokol and R Angel Jackie.

Daughter Molly-O-Tikie produced 4 race winners Magic Layce, Tiking Away, and Alive O Alive O, and Sheik to Sheik.

Daughter Tikis Bint Samia 2/10(4-4-0) is the dam of 5 race winners including Tiki Chanda, Tiki Fox Fire, Tikis Samsamia Ku, Kontiki Star (double Kontiki), Bint Czubuthan Ku and stakes winner FMR Tikis Shadow.

Daughter Kyla Tiki (a member of the Arabian Racing Hall of Fame) produced Sam Tiki+ 21(10-4-3)6 holder of 5 track records, 1988 Darley 3 Year Old Colt of the Year and a sire of stakes winners. She is also the dam of Samcherie, track record holder, multiple stakes winner including 1989 Gladys Brown Edwards Distaff and ARC Firecracker,and Darley award winner., international stakes winner Wrappin Up, stakes winner Eld Tiki Bee, race winners Sams Fireball and Eld Samurai and Region 18 Top Five Western Pleasure AOTR Vanitys Tearose.

Kyla Tiki’s daughter Vana Tiki produced multiple stakes winner and 1990 Darley 3 Yr Old Colt of the Year Oh By Gosh. (see Molly-R below).

Daughter Tikis Starlit 2/5(1-1-1) produced 6 race winners: Heza Champ, Kruger Kon, Tikis Star Streak, Cheyenee, Tikis Star Struck, Tikis Super Star.

Daughter Molly-R produced By Golly+/ 34(15-9-1)3-4 1984IAHA Racehorse of the Year, held track records on dirt and turf and was voted into Arabian Horse Trust Hall of Fame. By Golly+/ is the sire of Oh By Gosh(who is double Kontiki), a stakes winner in US including Armand Hammer Classic, also named 1992 Darley Older Horse of the Year and arace winner in the UK and UAE. By Golly also produced the double Kontiki stakes winner Top Flyte, 1992 Darley 4 Year Old Colt of the Year. Molly-R is also the dam of race winner Bint Molly R and of 2006 U.S. Reserve National Champion Second Level Dressage Riddle Me This.

Daughter Jikis Ellice 4/14(5-3-3) is the dam of Elite Star Ku, a stakes winner in both the US and the UK (double Kontiki), and of stakes winners Tikis Diablo and Tiki Tork Ku( both double Kontiki), of stakes winner Tikis Samantha, and of El Tiki 6/66 (13-12-11)a track record holder at 1 1/6 miles.

Daughter Tiki Anna Ku produced race winners Excalibur Ku, Tikis Bandit, Sambuca Tiki Ku and stakes winner Annatiki.

Daughter Tikis Honey Du produced multi-western pleasure champion Honey Sukl Rose and nine times stakes winner, twice Darley Champion and IAHA Race Mare of the Year Shawna Dew+ (herself dam of 4 race winners, 1 a stakes winner).

Daughter Tikis Chaparella is the dam of regional hunt pleasure winner Juan Ella and 7 successful racehorses: race winners Racey Affair, FC Cindarella, and Tiki Chaps Ku, race winners Tiki Laser Ku and Tiki Belle Starr and multi-stakes winner Tiki Bandalera (all double Kontiki), and stakes winner Sayhi Chap.

Daughter Mona Tiki produced race winners Topaz Ku and Ibn Majed and stakes winner SX Kontiki,

Daughter Bint Karita Ku, a race winner herself, produced multi-regional champion in halter, country pleasure and native costume Ski Quest++ , race winners LW Majestic and Shawntilly Lace, stakes winner Kremlin Ku, and multi-stakes winner Juans Karita Ku.

Daughter EW Merlinda produced National Champion sire J B Merlin (sire of Canadian National Champion Hunt Pleasure AOTR 40/Over Merlins Zarda SWA+/) and race winner Satin Sheiks.

Daughter Carolita Ku produced race winner Corenea Ku and multi-race winner and stakes placed Carmela Ku

Kontiki left only 4 breeding sons all of whom have played a significant part in American Arabian racehorse breeding.

Son Ibn Kontiki 1/ 2(1-0-0) was named to the Leading Race Sire List in 1982, 1983 and 1984. He sired Arabian Racing Hall of Fame Flaming Tron Ku 4/24(17-1-3), twice Darley Older Horse of the Year and holder of 4 track records at Delaware Park, Flaming Rod 1979 3 Year Old Colt of the Year 4/29(9-11-4) and Flaming Streak+/ (multiple track record holder and holder of 2 world records 5/34(12-7-7)4 stakes, also a sire of stakes winners.

Son Tiki Sahiber Ku 3/13 (10-1-1), was the only horse to be named National Champion Race Horse three times. He was also a successful show horse, and was a 1982 U.S. Top Ten Western Pleasure winner. He sired multiple race and stakes winners including Tikis Flaming Jet+/ 6/62(14-16-9)2, who held the record for 1 ½ miles, and stakes winner Tripolle 2/20(5-5-6), who won the AJC Distaff and placed in the IAHA Oaks.

Son Tiki Tessar+ 4/29(9-8-6), the 1979 National Champion Racehorse, world record holder at 5 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles. He was named to the Leading Race Sire List of 1983 and 1984. He was best known for his daughter Flying Tessie+ 3/24 (8-3-3) $23,112, who carried more weight at a longer distance than any other stakes winner when she won the IAHA Oaks in 1985. She was also named 1985 Race Mare of the Year.

Son Tiki Lark sired Eldans Tiki Pi 3/15(2-1-1) stakes placed and sire of stakes winner The Fast Lane. Tiki Lark also sired R-Kon+/ 5/38(11-10-7)1-5, who set two track records, one for 6 ½ furlongs, the other for a mile.

In spite of his early death, Kontiki’s influence on Arabian racing was profound and has stood the test of time. Bravo to Kontiki, the American-bred hero!