Flashy Gosden debutant Kingman bred for 2000 Guineas tilt
Published:John Gosden’s Kingmaker announced himself to the world with an impressive debut success at Newmarket at the tail end of June and his blue-blooded pedigree suggests that the handler could have a Classic contender on his hands.
Earlier in the same month Aidan O’Brien’s War Command had posted a marker for next season’s Classic generation with a six-length success in the Coventry stakes, a race won by Dawn Approach, Canford Cliffs and Henrythenavigator – English or Irish Guineas winners all – in recent years.
Kingman took a far more modest contest on the July Course, but still did enough to impress the bookmakers into adding him to their books for next year’s colt’s Classic. Powering up the hill, the son of Invincible Spirit came home six lengths in front of his pursuers, despite snoozily missing the break at the off.
The performance showed he had plenty of gears, with Ryan Moore’s mount the last off the bridle, before quickening past his rivals and then quickening again to put the field to the sword. His breeding suggests he’s sure to back up this performance in future outings too.
Invincible Spirit is mostly known for bringing Group 1-winning sprinters like Moonlight Cloud, Mayson and Fleeting Spirit into the world, but has also sired victors at the highest level over middle distances, such as 2007 French Derby scorer Lawman.
Meanwhile, Kingman’s dam Zenda took the 2002 French Guineas for Gosden and the bloodlines she brings to the table will do much to quell any doubts of her getting a mile at three. Sired by Zamindar – a father to unbeaten Arc-winner Zarkava – her mother was by 1986 Guineas and Arc winner Dancing Brave.
The 2000 Guineas is a notable gap in the trophy cabinet for Kingman’s trainer and after sustained support for the colt ahead of next year’s Classic, he is just one point behind the aforementioned War Command at 8/1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
