Kingman will face 13 rivals in Saturday’s Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas at
Newmarket after Thursday’s declaration stage saw no notable withdrawals.
So impressive when extending his perfect tally to three in Newbury’s Greenham
Stakes April 12, Khalid Abdullah’s newest sensation, who is drawn in post 1, had
the sprinkling of rain that he needed arrive on the Rowley Mile Thursday.
“He has a high cruising speed and is very relaxed and I think he will get the
mile no problem, but I don’t think he would go much after that,” trainer John
Gosden commented. “I think it is a really good Guineas. It is an exciting race
with a lot of depth.
“Australia is being talked about as being head and shoulders above the rest
at Ballydoyle, while I like the Craven winner Toormore. I think he is one of
those tough horses that will see the mile out and if you go by him you know you
will have had a race.
“We have only had four millimeters of rain since the Craven and we could have
done with a little bit more. As long as the ground is close to good, that’s
fine. I just don’t want to run on firm.”
Drawn on the opposite side in 14 is Middleham Park Racing’s similarly
unbeaten Toormore, while Coolmore’s much-vaunted Australia will exit from the 10
box alongside his stable companion War Command in 9. As expected, Australia, a
son of Ouija Board, will be ridden by Joseph O’Brien, while the Coventry and
Dewhurst Stakes hero War Command is the mount of Ryan Moore.
Godolphin will be represented by the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner
Outstrip, drawn in post 13.
“Outstrip is a horse who was campaigned at the highest level as a juvenile
and performed well,” trainer Charlie Appleby commented. “If the horse was to
finish in the first three, I feel as though I would walk away with a winner. He
was well traveled as a two-year old and it may sound strange in a way, but the
week he spent in America he went from a boy to a man mentally. He deserves his
place in the line-up.”
Noozhoh Canarias will become the first Spanish-trained runner in a British
classic when he lines up for the Guineas at Newmarket. Campaigned as a homebred
for Grupo Bolanos Gran Canaria and trained by Enrique Leon Penate, Noozhoh
Canarias sports a nearly spotless record, having lost just once in five outings.
He won his first two outings in his native country last spring before shipping
to France for a two-race campaign that saw him win a listed race at La Teste de
Buch before finishing second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
He warmed up for his Two Thousand Guineas assignment with a five-length
conditions victory in Spain March 30, and Noozhoh Canarias arrived in Newmarket
Wednesday.
“I traveled with him on the plane and everything went smoothly,” Leon said.
“Door-to-door the journey from Madrid, via Heathrow, took eight hours and
nothing bad happened. He is a horse who usually travels very well and he has
eaten up this morning.”
Despite the task at hand, Leon noted that his nerves haven’t had a chance to
kick in just yet.
“With all the traveling my mind has been busy, but now the nerves will
probably start to build up,” he said. “I am very happy and proud to be
responsible for the first Spanish runner in the Two Thousand Guineas.”
Leon said he is hoping for fast ground for his charge, but that he would also
be pleased with a good track. He also noted that spectators could expect to see
Noozhoh Canarias on the pace.
“If nobody else wants to make the running we will be happy to do it — it is
what he is used to,” the conditioner explained.
Noozhoh Canarias drew gate 8 of 14 and will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon.
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