Fans will be hoping that King's Gambit will take his first steps on an Anamoe-like trajectory when he makes his three-year-old bow in Saturday's Listed Winning Edge Presentations Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
On the day that Anamoe defeated I'm Thunderstruck, Zaaki (GB), Mr Brightside, and Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield, the crowd was still buzzing from the jaw-dropping debut of King's Gambit in the Debutant Stakes (1000m).
With Blake Shinn sitting near motionless, the son of I Am Invincible cruised to a 5-length win and was made favourite for everything.
He did not win another race.
Sixteen weeks after his debut, King's Gambit separated Red Resistance and future Golden Slipper winner Shinzo in the Group III Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill when a long odds-on favourite.
It was a similar story at his next start in the Group II Silver Slipper stakes at Rosehill, where he could do no better than third to Cylinder and Platinum Jubilee.
By the time of the Golden Slipper, much of the gloss had gone off King's Gambit, but he was not without support.
The talented colt finished as well as anything to grab third, beaten just over two and a half lengths.
It may not have been in the league of Anamoe's flashing second from last on the turn, but it was the culmination of a successful season that left a bit in the bag.
Bred by Gooree Stud, King's Gambit races for a syndicate that includes Newgate Bloodstock and China Horse Club Racing.
Gooree has a long tradition of sourcing some of America's most revered bloodlines, and King's Gambit is no exception. His dam Sultry Feeling (Encosta de Lago) traces back to the Tartan Farm family of Cozzene.
Trained by James Cummings, Sultry Feeling won the Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes and Group III ATC Triscay Stakes, defeating Peeping. She bowed out of racing with a third in the Group 1 Tattersalls Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Cummings prophetically said, "I know one thing: when she retires at the end of this preparation, she will throw a lovely colt or filly and be a great broodmare.
A Group 1 also eluded Sultry Feeling's triple Group III-winning half-brother Swift Alliance. The son of Don Eduardo fell just short of Group 1 glory when edged out by Shellscrape in the Group 1 Galaxy at Randwick when conceding the winner 3.5kgs.
Sultry Feeling's talented half-sister Tzu His (Quest For Fame) is the dam of Group II ATC Shannon Stakes winner Rock Sturdy (Fastnet Rock), who carried the Gooree colours to a third-place finish behind Turn Me Loose and Politeness in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
Sultry Feeling's dam Visual Emotion (USA) is the daughter of the Deputy Minister stallion, Silver Deputy (CAN). She did her racing in Australia when trained by Gai Waterhouse.
In a 5-start career, Visual Emotion (USA) won at Newcastle and twice at Wyong.
Visual Emotion (USA) died in 2012, leaving just five foals. Sultry Feeling and Tzu His are her only fillies.
Chris Waller purchased a Snitzel filly out of Sultry Feeling for $825,000 from the Newgate draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Encosta De Lago delivered a rare jewel last spring in the shape of an Extreme Choice filly before trekking back to Yarraman Park or a date with I Am Invincible.
