Kingman’s two year old career was curtailed by ankle surgery after his Solario Stakes victory at Sandown. That was why we did not see him contest any of the big end of season juvenile races. At least his surgery did not diminish his ability in the manner that Arazi’s knee-chip surgery saw his reduced.
What do you do with him he is quirky and hates anything either side of good ground. He will be popular at stud and will do well I think. He placed 2nd in one of the greatest guineas ever form wise no one can doubt that
Frankel was kept in training with a view to stepping up to 10f which he achieved seamlessly and effortlessly. Kingman was never going to have that option and would have had the Lockinge,Queen Anne,Sussex and QE11 as his targets. He has already claimed the Sussex,which is the first G1 that the generations clash and arguably the hottest 8f G1 of the season. Dropping back to six was mooted and is something that Gosden,Cecil,O'B et al always stated wouldn't be a problem to their top milers...never happened and no merit in doing that whatsoever as far as the sheds are concerned. Top miler and sad to see him leave the stage so quickly.
I have no problem with defeat at Newmarket – the best horse won on the day. Not sure about the idea that Kingman is “quirky”. I certainly disagree that it was one of the “greatest guineas ever”. The winner has failed to win since and the third cannot even claim to be the best three year old,
Rubbish when you have a Irish 2000 G and 4x group 1 winner in 2nd a duel derby winner and juddmonte winner in 3rd charm spirit who has won 2 group 1s since the grey gatsby winning French derby and Irish champion stakes an the derby 2nd and st leger winner all coming from the one race name me one that was better with quality
With the retirement of Kingman you only have to scratch the surface to see the proliferation of grandsons and great grandsons of Danzig now getting their legsover. Looking at the speedy end of the spectrum you have Paco boy (ggs), Cape Cross (gs), Oasis Dream (gs), Showcasing (ggs), Arcano (ggs), Approve (ggs), Invincible Spirit (gs), Zebedee (ggs), Kodiac (gs), Fast Company (ggs) and now Kingman (ggs): I'm sure I've missed a pile of others (like Exceed and Excel and Fastnet Rock). It's a busy area and somewhere down the line it is going to be difficult to find horses that don't have very close-inbreeding. Good point Mick. Few will have such strength in breadth. My first thought was El Gran Senor's Guineas (Chief Singer, Rainbow Quest, Lear Fan), then I thought Sir Ivor's ( Petingo and Jimmy Reppin). The obvious one is the Brigadier's Guineas (Mill Reef: may have been better in depth but not in breadth).
There are plenty of years when the Irish Guineas winner, the St James’s Palace winner and the Sussex winner run at Newmarket so that is nothing special. Often the Newmarket winner collects those but not this year – he has won nothing. The middle distance three year olds are an ordinary bunch on the ratings. The Prix Du Jockey Club winner reversed form with a badly-ridden dual Derby winner last time and the St Leger winner has won nothing else. No champion sprinter thrown up from the Guineas non-stayers this term.
