Kingman out to emulate Frankel in Guineas

Friday 2 May 2014, 11:43am

Kingman, carrying the same colours as Frankel, seeks to emulate Khalid Abdullah's racing phenomenon by winning Saturday's 2,000 Guineas.

Like Frankel, who claimed this in 2011 on the way to being lauded as the greatest racehorse of all time, Kingman warmed up for the opening Classic of the European season with success in Newbury's Greenham Stakes.

That took his record to three from three, and he is a short-priced favourite to enhance that at Newmarket.

Epsom Derby-winning trainer John Gosden rates Kingman highly, and is unfazed about the step up in trip for his son of Invincible Spirit.

"He has a high cruising speed and is very relaxed and I think he will get the mile no problem but I don't think he would go much after that," he said this week.

Gosden believes the main dangers come from Aidan O'Brien's heavily-hyped Irish contender Australia, and Toormore trained by Richard Hannon junior.

"I think it is a really good Guineas," he said.

"It is an exciting race with a lot of depth. Australia is being talked about as being head and shoulders above the rest at Ballydoyle, while I like the Craven winner Toormore.

"I think he is one of those tough horses that will see the mile out and if you go by him you know you will have had a race."

Kingman faces a maximum of 13 rivals over the historic straight Rowley Mile circuit at British racing's HQ.

Aside from the elegantly-bred second favourite Australia, the mount of his son Joseph, O'Brien also saddles War Command, who advertised his claims with victory in last season's Dewhurst Stakes.

Saturday's field also boasts the first ever runner from Spain in the shape of Noozhoh Canarias, trained by Enrique Leon near Madrid.

He secured his ticket to England with an eye-catching close second in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October.

– AFP

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