A scintillating surge of power carried Kingman to a stunning victory in today’s QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Crossing the line in a time of 1.41.75, five seconds slower than standard and reflective of a tactical race and early steady pace, the John Gosden-trained Kingman won by a length from last year’s victor Toronado in the race dubbed the “Duel on the Downs”.
Kingman, who was ridden by James Doyle for owner/breeder Khalid Abdullah, had been sent off the 2/5 favourite.
Gosden said: “I thought they would go a decent pace because they know he [Kingman] has a turn of foot, but I could see Aidan [O’Brien, trainer of third-placed Darwin] playing the same game. It was as if they were saying, ‘we know he’ll come from last to first, and if we can nick two lengths it will take a lot of getting back’.
“Actually he has the class to do it under hands and heels. It reminds me of the fact I had him in the [Darley] July Cup, and if truth be known he would have won it. I’m not just being loud-mouthed when I say that because I feel it’s a statement of fact. I ran a lovely old horse called Gregorian who was third, but unlucky not to be second – he was shut off and had to switch – and I wouldn’t put them in the same bit of work.
“Is this horse as quick as his uncle, Oasis Dream [who won the July Cup]? They are both equally fast.
“This horse gets the mile well, and, while it was a tactical affair, luckily he had the toe to win.
“His balance won on this track. Having walked it twice you have to remind yourself it’s downhill, it goes uphill, it switches, it cambers away and then runs downhill to the two-and-a-half furlong marker, which is why a lot of horses get unbalanced. A lot of horses come late on the outside to win, because they are just getting the momentum and balance, and he’s no different to that.
“It’s a tricky track, it tests your agility and is not unlike Epsom, another downland track. It is ability to switch legs and be nifty that counts. It’s a demanding track, but the ground was fine for him – he’s now won three times on good to firm, but he goes on soft and he goes on anything.
“He’s in the Prix Jacques Le Marois which comes up pretty quick on August 17, but the QEII has always been the big, big target and that remains the plan. So we will keep winding it back from there. I’m not keen on the Prix du Moulin, so he could go straight to the QEII.” Paddy Power quote Kingman at 4/7 (first show) for that race.
Asked if he felt it likely that Kingman would stay in training at four, Gosden said: “That’s not my department. It’s very much Prince Khalid’s choice, and I’m sure we will all have a lunch and discuss it in depth. He’s grown, as has Taghrooda [the filly he trained to win Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot].
“You are lucky when you get two three-year-olds like this. She’s got bigger and stronger and he’s done the same – you only have to put your hand on their necks to feel the sheer strength of them. Being given spaced races helps.
“We know Taghrooda is being retired at the end of this season, and this horse, well, it’s up to the owner, but we know he’s doing enough and he’s growing a lot. He’s a lot wiser. The horse at the beginning of the year was not as smart as he was today – he’s getting pretty smart and the jockey’s smart enough, too.”
Winning jockey James Doyle was not suprisingly full or praise for his superstar partner on a “special day”.
He said: “He has a wonderful turn of foot and it probably did play into his hands. I thought that they would go steady but not for quite as long as that – we passed the two-pole trotting really.
“I’ve never experienced going round the velodrome where they go real slow and then sprint for the last two laps, I suppose that must be as close to it as we can get. The turn of gear he has is really unbelievable.
“There was a lot leading up to such a big occasion. It was really only a two-furlong race. We went so slow, it was just a case of waiting for them to kick and then going to pick them up. I thought we’d go slow, but not that slow but I wasn’t that bothered.
“It’s not easy for a horse to go from really slow to flat out as hard as they could go in a matter of strides, they need to get balanced and organised. And Goodwood’s not the easiest track to handle, they do change their legs here.
“His turn of foot is unbelievable. I was happy after a couple of furlongs, I had slight concerns when they quickened up but not for long. He was only getting rolling. We all wondered how it would unfold but it went as I thought it would. To go to top speed in five strides is pretty exciting.
“I haven’t been riding that long but I’ve certainly never sat on a horse with the turn of foot he has.
“Toronado is a big imposing type and I have maximum respect for him. His record is very solid.
“It’s difficult to put into words what this means, it doesn’t get any better. It’s a wonderful meeting to win at and this is a special day.
“It’s what you work so hard for and I am in a very privileged situation that allows me to sit on horses like him, so it’s a massive thank you to the boss.”
