Sheehy LLC’s KINSALE KING (Yankee Victor) tuned up for his upcoming title
defense in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) by posting an impressive
front-running victory in Thursday’s
3RD race at Golden Gate Fields.
Last seen finishing seventh in the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on
the dirt at Churchill Downs, the Carl O’Callaghan charge returned to action over
the Tapeta here, the same synthetic surface in place at Meydan in Dubai.
Southern California-based jockey Mike Smith rode Kinsale King in a race for
the first time in Thursday’s allowance, and the Hall of Famer had his charge
take command immediately. Kinsale King led through solid fractions of :22 2/5
and :44 4/5, opened up by two lengths in midstretch, and held Shudacudawudya
(Marino Marini) safe by three-quarters of a length at the wire. His final time
for the six furlongs was a quick 1:09 2/5.
The prohibitive 3-5 favorite in a field of five, Kinsale King paid $3.20,
$2.20 and $2.10.
“That was perfect,” an exuberant O’Callaghan said. “Mike worked with him at
home (Hollywood Park) and everything worked out great. He should get a lot out
of this race. This puts us in a good spot. We’ll go home and get ready for
Dubai.”
Smith said his initial voyage aboard Kinsale King required little on his
part.
“I just pretty much stayed on,” Smith said. “Carl had him ready to go today.
This horse loves to play cat and mouse with other horses. He does it the
mornings (during workouts). He’ll let them get up alongside him and then kick
away. I was confident the whole way. I never touched him (with the whip).”
O’Callaghan said he was very anxious going into Thursday’s feature.
“I was so nervous about this race,” O’Callaghan admitted. “I felt like a cat
inside a dog show. We missed some training in January due to bad weather. We
needed this race. We’re real happy now.”
Kinsale King’s record reads 12-6-0-2, $1,502,320. The winner of the 2009
Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) and 2010 Palos Verdes H. (G2) prior to his heroics
in the Golden Shaheen, the gelding then shipped to England, finishing third in
the Golden Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot. He was a weary 12th next time in
the July Cup (Eng-G1), and didn’t race again until the Breeders’ Cup.
The about six-furlong Golden Shaheen is set for March 26 at Meydan.