Peter Snowden (right) believes the best of King’s Gambit is ahead of him
Seven years after Russian Revolution announced himself as top tier, three years after Wild Ruler blazed to success and four years after Cosmic Force secured his career defining win, King’s Gambit added his moniker to the honour roll of the stallion making AUD300,000 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
That the handsome colt did so almost in spite of haphazard racing manners and having come from the tail of the field speaks volumes about a still to be realized potential even for a colt who finished third in a G1 Golden Slipper last preparation.
King’s Gambit’s success guarantees his place on the Newgate Farm stallion roster for the China Horse Club / Gooree Stud / Newgate Farm colt alongside the above mentioned Russian Revolution, Wild Ruler and Cosmic Force and trumped a day of strong results that also included Princess Grace’s second in the G2 Rose of Kingston Stakes, Don Corleone’s third in the G2 Danehill Stakes and Ozzmosis’ third behind King’s Gambit himself.
“I still feel we’ve only seen 50 per cent of what he can do,” co-trainer Peter Snowden said of King’s Gambit post-race.
“[King’s Gambit] still did a few things wrong today, he’s been good until the last 10 minutes, when we put the saddle on him, he just got a little bit wound up but he’s just getting better and better and that’s the main thing.
“If we’d done all this work and he’d shown no improvement, we’d be scratching our heads but to see that result today, he’s definitely getting better and it’s very pleasing.’”
At the same stage in his career, King’s Gambit is ahead of boom stallion Russian Revolution who went on to secure two G1s before transitioning to stud duties and ahead of Cosmic Force whose career was cut short prematurely. King’s Gambit will be given his chance to make his mark in elite company once again at his next start in the AUD2,000,000 G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The Coolmore attracts the cream of Australia’s sprinting three-year-olds and King’s Gambit is deserving of his place in such company. But to measure himself the best of his peers he will need to iron out the kinks that are still present.
The Snowdens and jockey Tommy Berry are working on such a process and the Roman Consul Stakes was part of that educational progression. The once free rolling colt continues to be taught how to settle in his races and save his electric turn of foot for the back end of his races.
“There’s only one way, you’ve got to really switch him off,” said jockey Tommy Berry of the riding style required for King’s Gambit.
“We actually jumped and the first few strides he wanted to go for me so I checked him a little bit, which we lost a length doing. But he dropped the bridle well for me then.
“We had too much room in the run, no one wanted to go to the fence so it just gave him that bit of free running. I think if he had a horse in front of him, he would’ve dropped the bit a bit better. We all know how good he is this colt and he just had to put it all together. He did today.”
King’s Gambit has yet to finish outside the top three in his six start career and such is his audacious talent, he continues to be spoken about as a possible contender for the AUD20,000,000 The Everest. But connections remain adamant that the crucible of the world’s richest sprint is a contest that may be more appropriate for him in 12 months time.
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