Alan on Ascot: Day Five
Written by admin | Jun 22, 2008 |
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Kingsgate Native has always been something of a mold-breaker. He very nearly won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot last year on his racecourse debut, and two races later, the 2-year-old broke his maiden in the Nunthorpe Stakes (gr. I), beating established older sprinters. He open his 3-year-old campaign on the first day of this Royal Ascot meet, finishing unplaced in the King's Stand Stakes (gr. I), but he was back four days later to become the first 3-year-old since 1996 (when the race was a group III) to take the Golden Jubilee Stakes (gr. I).
Kingsgate Native is a son of Mujadil, a prolific sire of 2-year-olds and sprinters. By Storm Bird out of a Secretariat mare, Mujadil is bred on the same cross as Storm Cat and Summer Squall. Kingsgate Native is out of the Indian Ridge mare Native Force, and is rated A by TrueNicks. His second dam, La Pellegrina, somewhat parallels the pedigree of Mujadil, as she is by a son of Northern Dancer (sire of Storm Bird) out of a mare by a son of Sir Gaylord (half-brother to Secretariat).
In the 12-furlong Hardwicke Stakes (gr. II) the progressive 4-year-old Macarthur gained the day by a neck from the Danehill colt Multidimensional. Rated A++ by TrueNicks, Macarthur (Montjeu - Out West, by Gone West) is a brother to the English Derby (gr. I) winner Motivator. The Gone West branch of Mr. Prospector is clearly one that works well for Montjeu, as he also has group two winner Papal Bull out of a mare by Gone West's son Zafonic.
The seven-furlong Chesham Stakes, a 2-year-old listed race for the offspring of stallions that have won over 10 furlongs or more, resulted in a one-two for Dr. Fong, whose son Free Agent came from the back of the pack to win decisively by 2 1/4 lengths from Seaway. Dr Fong's brother, Lucky Story, was represented by the Coventry Stakes (gr. II) winner Ar Connoisseur, a member of his first crop, on the first day of the meeting. Bred and owned by Her Majesty the Queen, Free Agent is out of the Unfuwain mare Film Script, and so is bred on the same cross as the Prix Saint-Alary (gr. I) victress Ask For The Moon.
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