Having backed Kingman for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at odds of 16-1 last June, it was frustrating to see the race split into two groups. I remember being at the track when Hawk Wing was beaten in similar circumstances by Rock Of Gibraltar, although it turned out that both were brilliant milers.
Night Of Thunder’s 40-1 win was hard to explain after Kingman had beaten him so convincingly at Newbury in the Greenham. I suppose he just needed the run more than the favourite and improved considerably for the race. The fact that he won despite veering off a true line suggests that he was a worthy winner.
Kingman now goes in search of redemption in the Irish equivalent and is odds-on to succeed. The race is very different to Newmarket’s straight mile and James Doyle should be able to get a breather into his colt. The one slight concern is the going at the Curragh, currently described as yielding. Kingman probably wouldn’t want it any softer as the Curragh mile takes some getting if they go a fast pace.
Shifting Gold made heavy weather of winning the European Free Handicap but ran the race of his life in the Guineas to finish fourth. Connections were clearly elated with that effort and he bids to give Hannon Junior a second classic. He looks the sort of horse to grind out his victories rather than win impressively so I’d expect to see Richard Hughes ride him close to the pace.
Dermot Weld’s Mustajeb seems to be all the rage after an easy win in a Group 3 at Leopardstown. Whilst you could not fault the style of his victory, you have to doubt whether beating Brendan Brackan entitles him to be as short at 6-1 against horses with classic form.
War Command was only ninth in the Guineas, sinking our other ante-post wager placed after his demolition job in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Clearly he was a classic case of a good horse that did not really improve and he has been overtaken by others in his generation. The positive vibes from Ballydoyle were all about Australia prior to the Guineas and they proved to be correct.
This does not look like a race to get rich on but Kingman should beat this field and head to the Royal meeting for a possible re-match with Night Of Thunder.
Kingman 8-11 Bet365, William Hill
