The latest rising star sire son for
champion sire Invincible Spirit, Kingman was Horse of the Year and Champion 3YO Colt in Europe for 2014 with his
many wins including the Group I St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, so it
only seems fitting his first stakes-winner should come at this iconic meeting.A homebred for Juddmonte Farms, Calyx won easily on debut at Newmarket on June 9 and was a warm favourite at his second start.
Calyx dominated the big field of 23 to win the six furlong dash by a length with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
"Calyx is very talented. His father was exceptionally talented and he has all of those attributes," said John Gosden, who also trained his sire.
"I think for a horse second time up to be left on his own with a huge crowd screaming is a big ordeal for him. It could easily have seen him getting distracted. He's a bit of a show-off and I had to give him time. I'd love to give him a nice holiday now and then come back for the Prix Morny in August. I don't see why he's not a Guineas horse."
The early success of Calyx has buoyed hopes surrounding the only colt in
Australia by Kingman, a rising two year-old bred and retained to race by Sir
Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock. "When Sir Owen was at Ascot watching Criterion he went out to Juddmonte and saw Kingman and Frankel," explained Go Bloodstock Manager Geoff Roan.
"We purchased two mares, one for Frankel – Roz (a half sister to Hartnel) and Aiden Sea (by Danehill Dancer) for Kingman. Both mares were bred to SH time and returned to Australia to foal down at Newgate Farm and we've been delighted with the results."
Roz had a lovely Frankel filly and Aiden Sea a strong Kingman colt, the pair now getting ready to embark on their racing careers.
"Obviously Frankel has done very well up in the NH and Sir Owen has been excited about the emergence of the Kingman's in the UK in recent weeks, especially as we were informed our colt is the only colt by his sire in Australia," Roan said.
"Calyx winning the Coventry Stakes has given us a bit more confidence that this colt could develop into a serious prospect.
"Sir Owen has given this colt to Chris Waller to train and Chris emailed me first thing this morning to let me know of Kingmans' success overnight so we are heading in the right direction."
The colt was broken in at Glenn Haven Horse Farm by Matt Vella at Hawkesbury and has just come back into the stables for his first preparation.
"He has developed into a lovely strong colt and has a very good attitude, we
don't think he's a natural early type but with the success overnight on fast
ground at Ascot we are getting a little excited," Road added."He will head into Waller Racing in a couple of weeks for some more education and then we'll be guided by Chris and Matt as to if we push on or give him another break."
Invincible Spirit has made a huge impact in Australia through his outstanding Aussie bred son I Am Invincible prompting several other major studs to shuttle his sons in 2018, the list featuring Shalaa (IRE) (Arrowfield), Territories (IRE) (Darley), Zebedee (GB) (Cornerstone Stud), Cable Bay (IRE) (Woodside Park) and new for 2018 National Defense (GB) (Sun Stud).
"Sir Owen purchased another mare last season in England by Fastnet Rock and sent her to Kingman, but unfortunately she didn't go in foal," Roan reflected.
"Kingman is a stallion that we think will work well in the Southern Hemisphere, he had at Timeform of 134 is by Invincible Spirit and is Danehill free."
Plenty of Australian breeders concur judging by the numbers of mares covered by Invincible Spirit sire sons last year.
