Kingman One-Two In the Hampton Court As Sangarius Impresses

A true Sir Michael Stoute work-in-progress, 'TDN Rising Star' Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) came of age under the runaway influence of Frankie Dettori in Thursday's G3 Hampton Court S. to provide Juddmonte with a dream Royal Ascot result, as Fox Chairman (Ire) brought up a notable forecast for their sire in the ascendant.

Gently brought along so far this year, the May-foaled bay had shaped with promise when third behind the subsequent G1 St James's Palace S. runner-up King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Sandown's Listed Heron S. May 23 and showed instant benefit from that experience by breaking on top. Needing heavy restraint initially, the 13-2 shot eventually relaxed behind the moderate pace and needed all of his considerable muscularity to get out of a pocket in early straight. With the gods attentive to Dettori's every move, the gap became just wide enough for Sangarius to take command 1 1/2 down and open up his raking stride to secure an emphatic success. Fox Chairman, who ran into traffic as he had last time in the Listed Dee S., finished off strongly once again to give Kingman the one-two, 2 1/4 lengths behind the impressive winner.

“He is a horse we have always liked a lot,” commented his trainer who was welcoming his 81st Royal winner. “There wasn't much of a hole for him and he couldn't get balanced and into a real rhythm, but he was impressive.”

Sangarius earned immediate 'Rising Star' status when beating the subsequent high-profile performer Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in a seven-furlong Newmarket novice contest in August before handling similar rain-softened conditions to these when following up in Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman S. the following month. Despite the fact that he was 8 1/2-lengths behind Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) when fourth in the G1 Dewhurst S. on the Rowley Mile in October, the fact that Stoute even chanced him there spoke volumes and he was a star attraction when he reappeared in the Heron. That race is fast-becoming a key pointer to Royal Ascot and his performance in third under a penalty was typical of a seasonal debutante prepping for bigger days.

The enthusiastic manner in which Sangarius used his advantageous stride in the final furlong and hit the line suggests he will not have to wait too long to join the pantheon of Group 1 winners from Freemason Lodge.

“He's a smart horse in the making,” Stoute said in that measured and deliberate way which betrays his level of excitement discussing a top-class one from the yard. “We've always thought a lot of him and he had a hiccup in the spring so we didn't have him fully tuned for the Heron. That will have brought him on a lot and he has a turn of foot and is improving. He very quickly put a lot of space between himself and the field, so that is a good sign.”

Teddy Grimthorpe had one focus in the race, with Khalid Abdullah's other 'TDN Rising Star' Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) withdrawn, and he was also enthusing afterwards.

“We've always had a great opinion of him, but he was growing at two and got a little bit weak,” he explained. “He still ran a decent race in the Dewhurst and in his recent work he had come on every time. Whoever has ridden him has said he's more the business now and he's learning and growing into himself. Frankie said he'll be a nice horse next year and it's Michael's way to go fairly gently and consider the right options.”

Fox Chairman, who was finishing runner-up in what might prove to be the best race run for £90,000 all year, emerges with much credit, and trainer Andrew Balding commented, “I think the winner has run very well and we take nothing away from him, but we would have been closer. That was only the third start for our horse and he's certainly a very nice horse in the making. We'll work back from the autumn and take it from there. I don't want to over-race him, because he'll stay in training next season. He's going to be a very smart horse in time.”

Charlie Fellowes said of King Ottokar (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), who was a neck back in third, “You look at where the first two have come from and it just hasn't worked out for us,” he said. “I'm not blaming anyone, we just couldn't get a good position and we've ended up being three wide out the back of the field. Sir Ottokar has covered more ground than any other horse in the field, which is a shame, as he has run a massive race. There are loads of positives to take from the performance. We have a very good horse on our hands. Sir Ottokar is very quick and we have options over a mile or a mile and a quarter. This was our Derby today, so we'll get him back home and see where we go from here.”

Pedigree Notes:

Sangarius is a half-brother to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial third Emergent (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), with their dam Trojan Queen (Empire Maker) being a daughter of the triple group 1-winning champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill). That makes her a half to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual listed-winning and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Ideal World (Kingmambo), while the third dam is of course that outstanding producer Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). It takes no leap of the imagination to see Sangarius emulating the family's top-level scorers Champs Elysees (GB), Intercontinental (GB), Cacique (Ire) and Heat Haze (GB) from this sire line. Heat Haze's son Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) runs in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. for the same connections. Trojan Queen has an unraced 2-year-old colt Hydros (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and a filly foal by Showcasing (GB).

Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HAMPTON COURT S.-G3, £90,000, Royal Ascot, 6-20, 3yo, 9f 212yT, 2:08.36, sf.
1–SANGARIUS (GB), 126, c, 3, by Kingman (GB)">Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Hasili (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. 'TDN Rising Star' O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £51,039. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, $134,117. *1/2 to Emergent (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fox Chairman (Ire), 126, c, 3, Kingman (GB)">Kingman (GB)–Starfish (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (450,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Manister House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £19,350.
3–King Ottokar (Fr), 126, c, 3, Motivator (GB)–Treasure (Fr), by Anabaa. (€60,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG; €280,000 2yo '18 ARQMAY). O-Mrs Susan Roy; B-Haras du Quesnay (FR); T-Charlie Fellowes. £9,684.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 6.50, 3.50, 5.00.
Also Ran: Eightsome Reel (GB), Roseman (Ire), Arthur Kitt (GB), Cap Francais (GB), Getchagetchagetcha (GB), Global Spectrum (GB), Cape of Good Hope (Ire), Great Scot (GB), Old Glory (Ire), Kick On (GB). Scratched: Buckhurst (Ire), Headman (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.