His dam, Royal Dowry was a half-sister to Dear April whose descendants have included Bahri and Ajina.
Hoist The King was sired by Hoist the Flag, the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of his generation whose other progeny included the dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alleged.
At the 1979 Keeneland July Sales he was bought for a then world-record price of $1.6 million by the late John Corbett of Heron Bloodstock Services acting as agent for Kazuo Nakamura who outbid the British Bloodstock Agency's Joss Collins who was bidding on behalf of the English owner, Robert Sangster.
When the gavel fell, the consignor, Tom Gentry, rushed over to the successful Japanese owner and gave him the multi-coloured 'trademark' jacket that he was wearing.
(Tommy) Doyle, finishing second and third in his two races as a juvenile and running unplaced on his only appearance as a three-year-old.