Kings Gambit Wins G2 Roman Consul

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 7

Super talented I Am Invincible colt King’s Gambit delivered on potential at Rosehill on Saturday zooming up the fence to win the Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) from a wall of pursuers.

King's Gambit back in the winning groove - image Steve Hart

A brilliant winner of the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes last spring, King’s Gambit had been placed in every run since then albeit without winning and closed out his juvenile season with a third in the Golden Slipper.

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained colt did plenty wrong when resuming with a third in a Listed race at Flemington last month, but with a recent barrier trial to restore his confidence King’s Gambit produced his A game for Tommy Berry.

Snagged back in the early stages to settle with cover, King’s Gambit obliged and when the field drifted away from the fence after turning for home he was presented with a saloon passage to victory.

King’s Gambit scored by a length and a half in 1.09.16 seconds beating Capitalist colt Mexico and race favourite Ozzmosis, who lost his unbeaten record with a gallant third.

Peter Snowden was a much relieved man to get the valuable colt back into winning form.

“Finally, but I still feel we’ve only seen 50% of what he can do,” said Snowden.

Advertisement

“He still did a few things wrong, but he’s been good all day up until the last 10 minutes when we put the saddle on him and he got a little bit wound up, but he’s getting better and better and that’s the main thing.

“The Coolmore is the race Henry (Field) and the team really want to win. I was a bit sceptical at first when we down there and it didn’t work, but we might get another run into him and the more racing he has the better he will be and the more relaxed.

“He’s certainly talented and once we get it all worked out you’ll see a really nice horse.”

King's Gambit and Tommy Berry might be a winning combination - image Steve Hart

King’s Gambit was foaled and raised at Newgate Farm as the result of a partnership involving Gooree Stud, Newgate, China Horse Club and associates.

With two wins and four placings from six starts he has won over $750,000 in prizemoney and is the best of three winners from Group III winning Encosta de Lago mare Sultry Feeling, a half-sister to Group III winner Swift Alliance from a US Black Type family. Sultry Feeling has a two year-old filly by Snitzel that was sold by Newgate at Inglis Easter this year for $825,000 to Chris Waller Racing.

Sultry Feeling has a yearling filly by Extreme Choice and is due to foal again to King’s Gambit’s sire I Am Invincible.

Advertisment

Race Result - TAB Roman Consul Stakes Gr2 1200m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.16
1
King's Gambit
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sultry Feeling (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
I Am Invincible
2
1.8
Mexico
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x One More Tequila (AUS) (Onemorenomore (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Ryan Maloney 56.5
3
1.9
Ozzmosis
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 56.5
Zoustar
4
2.0
Royal Tribute
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Jennifer Lynnette (CAN) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
5
2.1
Celestial Legend
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Sarraqa (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: L J Bridge Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
6
2.2
Barber
- 3c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Trim (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
7
3.2
Balkans
- 3c Lonhro (AUS) x Ottoman (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56.5
8
3.3
Namesake
- 3c Maurice (JPN) x Banksia (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch - Randwick
The barrier trials at Randwick on Tuesday morning held plenty of interest with G1 winners Lion’s Roar and In the Congo both winning heats as well as star sprinters Lost and Running and Shades of Rose, but we’re interested in the juveniles and in particular King’s Gambit.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.