KING OF SWING
ROCKNROLL HANOVER USA – TWIST AND TWIRL NZ – ARTSPLACE USA
$3,390,546 – 1:47.9
82 Starts – 44 Wins – 18 Placings
2014 – bay horse – 16 hands
- 3 Time Miracle Mile Winner – First Horse in History
- 2 Time Hunter Cup Winner – First Horse in History to win 2 Hunter Cups & 2 Miracle Miles
- 3 time Australian Grand Circuit Champion
- 3 time NSW Horse of the Year
- 11 time Group One winner
- 19 time Group Race winner
- Group One Winner as a 2,3,5,6 & 7 Year Old
- Sub 1:50 mile rate 11 times
- Unbeaten in 12 starts over the mile at Menangle
- Track record holder
- Undefeated in his last season of racing
- Breeders Crown winner at 2
- WA Derby at 3
- Out of NZ Broodmare of the Year Twist and Twirl
- Richest son of the champion super sire Rocknroll Hanover
2022 Miracle Mile
After his third Miracle Mile win, King Of Swing advancing his earnings over the three-million-dollar mark – a triple millionaire – making him the richest son of the champion sire, Rocknroll Hanover USA.
King Of Swing is sired by the supersire Rocknroll Hanover USA, whose total progeny earnings is in excess of sixty-eight million dollars. Rocknroll Hanover’s stats speak from themselves and he needs no real introduction. He has sired many champion racehorses and now proven stallions as well such as Rocknroll Heaven who is bred on the same cross as with an Artsplace broodmare.
The champion racehorse’s mother, Twist And Twirl NZ was named 2021 Pacing Broodmare of the Year primarily as a result of the efforts of her Australian based Rocknroll Hanover entire King Of Swing and her Bettors Delight three year old filly Bettor Twist NZ – who also was named three year old Pacing Filly of Year and Pacer of Year at NZ Harness Racing Awards.
Twist and Twirl NZ was a handy racemare herself: TWIST AND TWIRL NZ (2008f Artsplace/Giveitawhirlgirl; Jessie Pepper, U4) : five NZ (three Alexandra Park, one Addington), 1:59.3, $234,095, two VIC (Melton/Bendigo) wins, 1:55.9AUS, $49,163, GN Oaks, NZSS – 3f; dam of five live foals, four have raced for three winners, all in sub 1:57, one in 1:48.0. Bred by Breckon Bloodstock and all her foals bred by Breckon Farms Ltd.
The crowned 2020, 2021 and 2022 Australian Grand Circuit Champion King Of Swing’s career stats certainly put him up with the all-time Down Under greats. His prize money of $A3,390,546 put him fifth on the all-time earners’ list for Down Under pacers behind: Blacks A Fake ($A4,575,438), Im Themightyquinn ($A4,567,456), Lazarus ($A4,125,988) and Smoken Up ($A3,607,985).
The three time NSW Horse of the Year, King Of Swing won Group One races from the age of two when he won the Breeders Crown final, to the age of seven winning his third Miracle Mile. He won the Group One Breeders Crown 2YO Colts and Geldings for his former NZ trainer Ray Green. He continued to be a dominant juvenile winning the Group One WA Derby for Gary Hall Sr before adding another nine Group One victories in the care of Craig Cross, Belinda and Luke McCarthy.
As a seven-year-old, King Of Swing became the first pacer in history to win three Miracle Miles – he won them consecutively – in the fifty-five-year history of Australia‘s greatest speed test. King Of Swing is one of eight pacers to have won the Miracle Mile twice, but none have saluted three times. And his third Miracle Mile win kept his unbeaten record over a mile at Menangle intact as he was unbeaten in twelve runs over a mile, five of them at Group One level. King Of Swing stands alone as one of the best milers seen in Australia.
King Of Swing’s career was one that re-wrote history, including eleven Group Ones and eight other Group races wins, eleven sub 1:50 times, winner of eleven races at Gloucester Park, eighteen wins at Menangle, three at Albion Park and three at Melton of which are major metropolitan tracks in Australia. Ending his racing career on a massive high he left the racetrack undefeated in his last four race starts, three that were at Group One level – the Del-Re A G Hunter Cup, the Allied Express Sprint and the Miracle Mile. A career best mile rate of 1:47.9, which he broke his own “PB” by 0.1 of a second on his second ever last race start taking victory in the Group One Allied Express Sprint. It was the performance of a champion and the fact he had to overcome adversity to do so, with an unsuccessful early speed burn and then sitting parked for the trip to pull through with the win. It was the win that helped him stamp himself as a true champion.
King Of Swing achieved yet another moment of glory in a celebrated career when he won the Del-Re A. G. Hunter Cup for the second time. Becoming the first pacer in history to win two Hunter Cups and three Miracle Miles. The Hunter Cup is run over 2760m and is proven to be a real stayers test, King Of Swing has shown his versatility by outstaying his rivals and bringing home the trophy on two occasions.
King Of Swing also holds the Track Record at Newcastle from his only race start there. King remained unbeaten in the three rounds of heats when smashing the track record at Newcastle in the last of the 2021 Inter Dominion qualifiers. He stopped the clock in 1:51.5 in the 2030m event proving that he wasn’t just a ‘miler’.
King Of Swing raced in an open bridle, snaffle bit and just knee boots. “This is one of my favourite horses of all time – he’s big, he’s strong, he’s so good gaited. He’s just done such an amazing job,” driver Luke McCarthy.
King Of Swing retired from the racetrack completely sound with no injuries.
His overall career stats are : 82 starts, 44 – 11 – 7, (50%+ win ratio), $3,390,546 , 1:47.9
Season by season performances have included :
2YO (16/17) – $208,721 – 10 starts – 5 Wins – *G1 Breeders Crown
3YO (17/18) – $183,856 – 13 starts – 7 wins – *G1 Western Australia Derby
4YO (18/19) – $78,517 – 23 starts – 7 wins – Winner of six races at Gloucester Park and one at Pinjarra from twenty three starts
5YO (19/20) – $1,130,100 – 13 starts – 10 wins – *G1 Miracle Mile and prelude G1 Allied Express Sprint, G1 Hunter Cup, G1 Blacks A Fake, G3 Kevin Robinson Memorial and several Menangle FFA’s; second Victoria Cup; thirds York/Media Guild Cups
6YO (2021) – $871,870 – 16 starts – 11 wins – G1 Miracle Mile, G1 Schweppes Sprint, Lucky Creed, G3 Mr Feelgood, three ID heats and several Menangle FFA’s; second Sunshine Sprint; third Hunter Cup & Blacks A Fake
7YO (2022) –$900,300 – undefeated – G1 Miracle Mile, G1 Hunter Cup, G1 Allied Express Sprint, Menangle FFA
King Of Swing’s first crop of foals were born in 2023.
First Yearlings sold in 2025.
It was the inaugural year for King Of Swing’s yearlings at the sales in both Aus & NZ, and the results were truly remarkable; everyone wanted to claim a piece of that crown!
Total Sales $1,376,500
Average Sale Price $36,223.68
Overall 38 of the 45 Lots sold
Top Selling Colt – Dancing Diamonds Colt sold for $85,000 at Sydney Nutrien Equine Sale.
Total Sales of Colts $929,000 with an average of $44,238
Top Selling Filly – Queen Of Pop Filly sold for $82,500 at Melbourne APG Sale and was also the sales topper that day.
Total Sales of Fillies $447,000 with an average of $29,800.
King Of Swing is clearly Rocknroll Hanover’s richest and greatest race track performing son and he has the extreme advantage of being out of the very special U4 Artsplace mare Twist And Twirl.
Many astute breeders believe King Of Swing is the most exciting stallion prospect the Southern Hemisphere has ever produced and broodmare owners are now invited to be a part of this incredible opportunity. Only 150 mares will be able to take full advantage of what this astonishing young sire can do for your cherished broodmare band.
Rocknroll Hanover had such a powerful and positive impact on so many daughters of broodmare sires available here in the Southern Hemisphere. King Of Swing should also be given the opportunity to be matched with these types of mares, some clear examples of these are:
Put On A Show $2,459,903 out of a Artsplace mare.
Boston Red Socks $1,486,357 out of a McArdle mare.
Nickie Bag $1,241,230 out of a Four Starzzz Shark mare.
Scott Rocks $1,137,687 out of a Blissful Hall mare.
Simply Business $1,030,128 out of a Presidential Ball mare.
Other outstanding race track performers / breeding results have come from mares by:
Allamerican Ingot, Armbro Operative, Artiscape, Ball And Chain, Bettors Delight, Christian Cullen, Fake Left, Falcon Seelster, Grinfromeartoear, Holmes Hanover, In The Pocket, Jennas Beach Boy, Life Sign, Mach Three, New York Motoring, Panorama, Parsons Den, Perfect Art, Real Desire, Safely Kept, Sands A Flyin, Stonebridge Scooter, The Ponderosa, Troublemaker, Vance Hanover and etc..
Meadow Skipper line stallions progeny account for 8 of the 10 greatest ever horses seen on a race track and the siring record of those stallions out of Artsplace mares is nothing short of staggering.
With the above in mind, this means King Of Swing is bred on exactly the same record breaking cross that this sport has ever witnessed – Meadow Skipper line sired over an Artsplace mare. Folied Again “The Richest Racehorse Of All Time“ and winner of an incredible $7,635,588 also shares this all conquering mix of the very best blood that this sport has to offer – thankfully it’s the same blood that King Of Swing has flowing through his veins.
Some random and real examples of these Meadow Skipper line Stallions that are out of Artsplace mares’ progeny (and what mares owners should be seriously looking at for King Of Swing are):
Terror To Love ( Live Or Die – Mare) $2,377,125
Perfect Sting ( Bettors Delight – Mare ) $1,861,447
Western Silk ( Jennas Beach Boy – Mare) $1,729,708
Shacked Up ( Falcon Seelster – Mare ) $1,466,978
Up The Credit ( Pacific Rocket – Mare ) $1,337,793
Agent Q ( Real Desire – Mare) $1,292,415
Control The Moment ( Life Sign – Mare) $1,227,832
Code Word ( Northern Luck – Mare) $1,090,136
Owners of Art Major and Perfect Art mares should have King Of Swing at the very top of their stallion options for 2023.
Of Art Major’s Top 35 broodmare credits, a staggering 27 are by Meadow Skipper line stallions just like King Of Swing.
The same can be said about the following:
Albert Albert Mares 9 of the top 10 are by stallions like King Of Swing
Armbro Operative Mares 4 of the top 5 are by stallions like King Of Swing
Artsplace Mares 9 of the top 10 are by stallions like King Of Swing
Christian Cullen Mares 24 of the top 25 are by stallions on the Meadow Skipper line
Courage Under Fire Mares 4 of the top 5 are by stallions like King Of Swing
Fake Left Mares have been a smash hit with Hanover himself, Foreclosure winner of $807,746 is a great example down here.
Grinfromeartoear Mares 8 of the top 10 are by stallions just like King Of Swing.
We hold the view that King Of Swing has the potential to be a sire just like his father that can really lift the mares prospects of leaving a true super star of the sport.
As one leading breeder has stated: “King Of Swing was mentally very laid back but physically very strong, fast and extremely tough. I can see how King Of Swing has the ability to lift the Australian breeding industry”. If you are a mare owner by the following broodmare sires do yourself a favor and consider this exceptional young stallion:
Aces N Sevens, Albert Albert, Alta Christiano, Always B Miki, Always A Virgin, American Ideal, Armbro Operative, Art Major, Art Official, Artesian, Artiscape, Artistic Fella, Artsplace, Auckland Reactor, Badlands Hanover, Beach Towel, Betterthancheddar, Bettors Delight, Blissful Hall, Cammibest, Camtastic, Captaintreacherous, Changeover, Christian Cullen, Courage Under Fire, Dawn Ofa New Day, Die Laughing, D M Dilinger, Dream Away, Elsu, Fake Left, Falcon Seelster, Flightpath, Fly Like An Eagle, Follow The Stars, Gotta Go Cullect, Grinfromeartoear, Hes Watching, Holmes Hanover, Hurrikane Kingcole, Iflhadyourluck, In The Pocket, Island Fantasy, Jennas Beach Boy, Jet Laag, Jeremes Jet, Kennith J, Life Sign, Lis Mara, Live Or Die, Mach Three, Major In Art, McArdle, Metropolitan, Million Dollar Cam, Mister Big, Modern Art, Mr Aviator, Mr Feelgood, Northern Luck, Ok Bye, P B Bullville, Pacific Fella, Pacific Rocket, Panorama, Passmaster Hanover, Perfect Art, Pet Rock, P Forty Seven, Ponder, Precious Bunny, Presidential Ball, Real Desire, Rich And Spoilt, Riverboat King, Robin Hood, Rob Roy Mattgregor, Rock N Roll Heaven, Roll With Joe, Royal Mattjesty, Safely Kept, Safari, Shadow Play, Shadyshark Hanover, Santanna Blue Chip, Shoobees Place, Speed King, Sportswriter, Somebeachsomewhere, Sunshine Beach, Sweet Lou, Tell All, Tinted Cloud, Tintin In America, Tiz A Masterpiece, Troublemaker, Union Guy, Village Jasper, Village Jolt, Warrawee Needy, Washington VC , We Will See, Well Said, Western Terror just to name a few.
Many of the best performed horses world wide are linebred. For information and explanations about linebreeding click here.
Based on linebreeding King Of Swing best matches the following broodmares are:
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DAMSBY |
COMMENT |
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RED RIVER HANOVER |
ULTIMATE CROSS |
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RIGHTEOUS HANOVER |
ULTIMATE CROSS |
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RUSTLER HANOVER |
ULTIMATE CROSS |
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ADVANCE ATTACK |
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ALWAYS A VIRGIN |
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AMERICAN IDEAL |
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ARMBRO DEUCE |
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ART ATTACK |
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ART COLONY |
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ARTMAJOR |
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ARTISCAPE |
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ARTSPEAK |
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ASTREOS |
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BIG JIM |
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CHANGEOVER |
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CHRISTIAN CULLEN |
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CONTROL THE MOMENT |
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COURAGE UNDER FIRE |
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DAWN OFA NEW DAY |
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DAY IN A LIFE |
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DR DREW |
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DREAM AWAY |
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EXTREME THREE |
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FLIGHT N IRISH |
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FLIGHTPATH |
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FRANCO TERMINATOR |
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FULLY LOADED |
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GOLD DUST BEACH |
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GRINFROMEARTOEAR |
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GUARANTEED |
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I AM A FOOL |
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ISLAND FANTASY |
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JULIUS CAESAR |
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LOTSA CLOUT |
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LUCK BE WITHYOU |
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MACH THREE |
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MATTGILLA GORILLA |
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METROPOLITAN |
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MODERN ART |
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MR FEELGOOD |
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P FORTY SEVEN |
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PANPACIFICFLIGHT |
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PARTYWITHTHEBIGDOG |
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PEACE OF ART |
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PERFECT ART |
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PERFECT UNION |
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PERUVIAN HANOVER |
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PONDER |
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REAL DESIRE |
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ROB ROY MATTGREGOR |
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SANTASTICS PAN |
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SHADOW PLAY |
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SHOOBEES PLACE |
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SOUTH PARK HANOVER |
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STRONG LIFE |
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TERROR TO LOVE |
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THE GLOBE |
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TIGER WOODS |
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TINTED CLOUD |
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TOWN CHAMPION |
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VINTAGE MASTER |
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GRAND DAMS BY |
COMMENT |
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WESTERN IDEAL |
ULTIMATE CROSS |
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ARTSPLACE |
ULTIMATE CROSS |
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out of RICH AND ELEGANT |
ULTIMATE CROSS |
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ALLAMERICAN INGOT |
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BADLANDS HANOVER |
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BARNETT HANOVER |
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CAMLACH |
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JEREMES JET |
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LONESTAR LEGEND |
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THE PANDEROSA |
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TIZ A MASTERPIECE |
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TOTALLY WESTERN |
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UNION GUY |
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WE WILL SEE |
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WELL SAID |
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WESTERN EDITION |
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WESTERN TERROR |
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YANKEE SENSATION |
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MAKE A DEAL |
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ARMBRO INTERCEPT |
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DIRECT FLIGHT |
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IN THE POCKET |
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KIWI ALMAHURST |
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MATTS SCOOTER |
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OK BYE |
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STONERIDGE SCOOTER |
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WRH |
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AS PROMISED |
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BOND STREET |
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CHILL FACTOR |
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CROUCH |
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GOLDEN GREEK |
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LAAG |
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LIFE SIGN |
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ORGANE SOVEREIGN |
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PANORAMA |
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SPORTSMATER |
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THE WRATH OF PAN |
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TOPNOTCHER |