Kingswood

Kingswood did well to get as close as he did in the Gallinule Stakes at The Curragh last Sunday. Settled in fourth of the six runners early on by Ronan Whelan, he came under a ride early in the home straight as the pace quickened but, moved towards the outside, he picked up well. He moved a little to his right when his rider asked him to pick up – he might have been still showing signs of inexperience, or he might not have been in love with the ground – but, once straightened up, he went forward again. He probably wasn’t helped by Teutates moving to his left and the concertina effect that that had – the placings of Teutates and Drumroll were reversed by the stewards – but there was still a lot to like about the willingness with which he went to the line. He was only third, but he was only beaten a total of a half a length.

This was another step forward by John O’Donoghue’s horse. He shaped with a lot of promise in his two runs last season as a juvenile, and he was impressive in winning his maiden at Cork on easy ground on his debut this season, with the first three clear, a race from which the third-placed Nation’s Call has since come out and won. That win earned him a tilt at this Group 3 prize, and he proved here that he was well able for the step up in grade. He has run just four times in his life, so he has plenty of scope for progression now as he moves through his three-year-old season and, a half-brother to St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, he should improve as he steps up in trip. He races like he can get further than 10 furlongs. He could do even better too when he can get back on easy ground, and he could be an interesting outsider if he takes up his entry in the Irish Derby.
The Curragh, 28^th May 2023