Kinsale King maintains American dominance in Golden Shaheen

Kinsale King is now a perfect four-for-four since moving to rookie trainer

Carl O'Callaghan. The dark bay gelding faced a massive test of his international

class in this spot, however, having fought his way to narrow scores in the

December 6 Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) and the January 23 Palos Verdes H. (G2)

in his past two.

"I knew I had it won when I put the saddle on him," O'Callaghan stated. "I wasn't too worried about who else was in the race, but it

was just amazing. Leave it to the Irishman. He's a great horse, has a lot of

heart. I don't need to do a whole lot with him. I just give him his eggs and his

Guinness, and let him go."

The Golden Shaheen figured to have a wicked pace, but the complexion of the

race changed right out of the gate when Japan's speedy Laurel Guerreiro (King

Halo) did not get away cleanly. Rocket Man's natural early foot carried him

effortlessly to the front, while jockey Robbie Fradd looked around hoping to see

Laurel Guerreiro stride forward.

When Laurel Guerreiro regrouped under pressure and took command, Fradd wound

up easing Rocket Man back just off the pace, trying to avoid a potential duel.

Gomez, who had settled Kinsale King on the outside, was quick to observe that

development and moved his mount forward. In the process, he deftly pocketed

Rocket Man to his inside.

Gomez put Kinsale King in the best position to win, and his mount repaid the

favor. Roaring past a sputtering Laurel Guerreiro, Kinsale King nicked an

insurmountable advantage. Rocket Man went after him determinedly, but it was too

late. Kinsale King rattled off about six furlongs in 1:10 4/5.

Hong Kong invader One World (Danehill Dancer) kept on for third, another two

lengths back. Laurel Guerreiro, Eagle Falls (Hussonet), Benbaun (Stravinsky),

Mutheeb (Danzig), Gayego (Gilded Time), Force Freeze (Forest Camp) and Regal

Parade (Pivotal).

America has now won nine of the last 11 runnings of the Golden Shaheen.

Kinsale King's career record stands at 8-5-0-1, and he increased his earnings

roughly sixfold to $1,407,080. After breaking his maiden second time out for

Jesus Mendoza in March 2008, he was transferred to Eoin Harty and sidelined for

nearly nine months. The dark bay gelding was unplaced in both of his entry-level

allowance attempts for Harty, and he was not seen again for nearly 10 months.

Resurfacing in the care of O'Callaghan, he returned in an optional claimer at

Santa Anita on October 30 and posted a wire-to-wire, three-length victory,

kicking off his four-race winning streak.

O'Callaghan confirmed he's taking Kinsale King to Royal Ascot for the Golden

Jubilee (Eng-G1).

Bred by Marvin Little Jr. in Kentucky, Kinsale King has been sold twice at

public auction. A $27,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September, he brought

$67,000 as a Barretts May two-year-old. He is out of the unraced Woodman mare

Flaming Mirage, whose other progeny include the stakes-placed Ballado Chieftan

(Saint Ballado), a juvenile filly named Victoria's Wildcat (Bellamy Road) and an

unnamed yearling colt by Forest Danger.

Flaming Mirage is a half-sister to stakes winners Light of Morn (Alleged) and

Dancing Mirage (Alleged). She comes from the family of multiple Grade 3 victors

Now Listen (Miswaki) and Sandtrap (Irish River [Fr]), and further back, the

ill-fated champion two-year-old Roving Boy (Olden Times).