Juddmonte Farms' homebred Kingman look every bit the classic racehorse May 24 when capturing Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) by a commanding five lengths at the Curragh.
Denied classic glory earlier this month at Newmarket when 40-1 upsetter Night of Thunder snatched away victory the final strides of the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), Kingman distanced himself from the competition a furlong out in the Irish equivalent. He scored a decisive win under James Doyle despite less-than-ideal ground conditions.
Shifting Power was fourth at Newmarket behind stablemate Night of Thunder and supplemented by trainer Richard Hannon to Saturday's race. He was in command soon after the start for Richard Hughes but yielded when the winner rolled past. He was easily best for second, two lengths in front of third-place finisher Mustajeeb.
Doyle settled Kingman, the 4-5 favorite, into an easy tempo in mid-field early on and took closer order with the colt when moving into fourth within striking distance a quarter-mile out. With Shifting Power extending his lead, Doyle urged Kingman for his run and got an immediate and willing response. Striding powerfully, Kingman reeled in the front-runner and shook free.
Time for one mile on turf rated as soft was 1:47.29.
"Two out, you could see he was cruising. He's a very talented horse and it's lovely to win a Guineas with him," trainer John Gosden told England's Press Association after capturing his first Irish Two Thousand Guineas.
"This mile takes some getting in these conditions and he (Doyle) rode him beautifully."
Kingman, who began the year with a win over Night of Thunder in the Greenham Stakes (Eng-III) April 12 at Newbury, has two wins from three starts this season and four victories and a second from five career starts. He will be pointed to the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) next month at Royal Ascot.
"He traveled really well in the race and did it pretty comfortably," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Juddmonte owner Khalid Abdullah. "You want good horses to have a bit of spirit.
"Prince Khalid said we have to make this horse a classic winner. This is a hugely important race for us."
Bred in Great Britain, Kingman is out of the Zamindar mare Zenda, winner of the 2002 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-I, French One Thousand Guineas) for Juddmonte. A half sister to European champion sprinter and prominent Juddmonte sire Oasis Dream, Zenda also is the dam of group III winner Remote.
Johann Straus finished fourth in the Irish Guineas, followed by Big Time, Great White Eagle, Michaelmas, Dolce N Karama, Davids Park, Fountain Of Youth, and Obliterator. War Command, Prince Of All, and Mandatorio were scratched.
