By Sean Cronin
Juddmonte homebred Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Kind {Ire}, by Danehill), a member of the whole Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) ensemble, backed up a promising debut effort at Newmarket last November with a neck victory over the same seven-furlong strip on sophomore return in Tuesday's Alex Scott Maiden back at HQ.
“It's wonderful to have him in the yard, but that comes with a little bit of added pressure,” admitted trainer Harry Charlton. “We try to push that pressure away, Juddmonte has applied no pressure and this win will mean a lot to the family and a lot to racing. He's not done a lot of work and we were pleased he put on so much condition since last year. He's put on 27 kilos and our only concern was whether we had him fit enough, or not. There's no immediate plan and Ryan [Moore] thinks he'll be even better next year, but that doesn't mean we're going to do nothing this year! We'll talk to Juddmonte and see what they want to do.”
6th-Newmarket, £10,000, Mdn, 4-16, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:24.61, gd.
KIKKULI (GB) (c, 3, Kingman {GB}–Kind {Ire} {MSW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $132,320}, by Danehill), who shaped with promise when runner-up over course and distance in his Nov. 3 debut last time, tracked the leading wave in an overall sixth through the halfway point of this seasonal return. Tanking closer approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 5-2 second choice inched ahead passing the furlong pole and kept on strongly under late rousting to deny Creative Story (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by a neck in a blanket finish. Kikkuli is the latest of eight registered foals and seventh scorer produced by dual stakes-winning G3 Ballyogan S. third Kind (Ire) (Danehill), herself kin to a trio of black-type performers out of G3 Lancashire Oaks victrix Rainbow Lake (GB) (Rainbow Quest) headed by G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and GI Arlington Million hero Powerscourt (GB) (Sadler's Wells). The March-foaled homebred bay requires little introduction as a sibling of MG1SW sires Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Lingfield Derby Trial victor Bullet Train (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and multiple Group-placed Listed Dick Poole Fillies' S. and Listed Cecil Frail S. victrix Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The latter, in turn, is the dam of last term's G2 Mill Reef S. winner Array (Ire) (No Nay Never), the multiple Group 1-placed Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Coronation S. third Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal) and the dual stakes-placed Jovial (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $8,890.
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Harry Charlton.
👀 Frankel's half-brother wins at @NewmarketRace!
Kikkuli (Kingman) gets off the mark at the second time of asking and shows a good attitude to land the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes at HQ under Ryan Moore…@HarryJCharlton | @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/w1RMaGF6iw
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 16, 2024
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