Kingsgate Native at home in Temple Stakes
Making plans for racehorses tends to be something of an open-ended arrangement.
When the Cheveley Park Stud bought Kingsgate Native two years ago the plan had been for him to be added to their stallion roster. That, however, never came to fruition; he was sent back into training with Sir Michael Stoute and a gelding operation meant that he is now on a one-track course.
But it could still be a profitable one and Kingsgate Native laid down a marker for those who will challenge for top sprint honours this season when he won the Group Two betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park.
This appeared to be a competitive renewal on paper but Kingsgate Native (pictured right) won with some style. Ryan Moore wanted to keep him covered up in the early stages and tracked Benbaun through the first three furlongs as Equiano set a gallop that had a few runners off the bridle by halfway.
Moore, however, seemed to have complete confidence in his horse, who eased through a gap between Equiano and Spin Cycle in the last hundred yards to win by a half-length from Equiano, with Borderlescott coming through late for third.
“It didn’t really work out the way I’d planned,” Moore said. “I thought Equiano would go the other way and I just had to go back to get some cover at halfway. But he got there easy and picked up nicely. I’d like to think he’d improve for the run. He was very relaxed today – from being a stallion he’s settled down well.”
Connections have yet to settle on a final plan for Kingsgate Native who won Group One races at both two and three. He is entered for both King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot but it is likely that he will run in only one of those, but he will surely be a strong contender for either of them.
Royal Ascot is also on the cards for Balducci after he won the Betfred Silver Bowl. Al Farahidi appeared to have slipped the field and was still a couple of lengths clear in the last quarter-mile but Balducci cut him down for David Probert with little fuss and looks a horse who is a progressive type for bigger prizes later on in the season. “They went a quick gallop, which suited really,” Probert said. “I just dropped in behind the leaders and he’s travelled well enough through the race and he’s improved with every race he’s had. He takes a bit of time just to sort himself out but, when I’ve gone for him, he’s done it well.”
His trainer, Andrew Balding, added: “His owners are hoping to come over for the Britannia, at Royal Ascot, and that’s the plan.”
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