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Son of Kingman becomes stallion’s second Group 1 winner
In 2014 Kingman (Invincible Spirit) lit up the Ascot track in the St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) and this year it was over to his son Palace Pier (3 c ex Beach Frolic by Nayef), who produced an impressive display to win the Group 1 on Saturday and in the process become the second elite level winner of his sire.
Palace Pier who was significantly stepping up in class at only his fourth start and first at stakes level faced much more seasoned colts in the form of Wichita (No Nay Never) and Pinatubo (Shamardal), who finished second and third in the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m).
In a thrilling finish Frankie Dettori struck closer to the centre of the course, asserting late on to defeat last year’s Champion two-year-old Pinatubo by length who was only a head ahead of Wichita.
Purchased by John Gosden for 600,000gns at the Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Highclere Stud, the colt is out of unraced Nayef (Gulch) mare Beach Frolic, who is herself a half-sister Group 2 winners Bonfire (Manduro) and Joviality (Cape Cross).
The colt’s third dam is Miss d'Ouilly (Night Shift) - the dam of Miss Caerleona (Caerleon), who in turn the dam of Grade 3 scorers Miss Coronado (Coronado's Quest) and Karen’s Caper (War Chant).
John Gosden, who also trained Kingman, said: “The race panned out well. Frankie [Dettori] said he wanted to ride Palace Pier a little cold. He settled him off the pace. He knew there would be a searching pace and I think Ryan Moore was happy with how the race turned out on Wichita. It got a little rough and Frankie avoided all of that. He swept round the outside and I think that he demonstrated superior stamina, which he also showed at Newcastle, when he was really strong in the last furlong.
“It is no fluke. He is a really talented horse and he will go for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, which his father Kingman won.
“Pinatubo is a horse that is so fast that the quick mile in the Sussex Stakes will suit him. I know Charlie (Appleby) has wanted to run him there and I’m sure that is where he is going and I hope he does it like we did with Too Darn Hot.
“It is fantastic that we are here, perhaps a bit of a miracle, as we only started racing on June 1. Ascot has put on a fantastic biosecure environment for us, out in the open air all masked up, it has been very well run. It is great to get the meeting off.
“For all of my staff who worked incredibly hard through the whole of lockdown. We were in every day training the horses. We are lucky we are out on the Heath because you can’t leave the horses in the boxes. If they get too fresh, they are going to hurt themselves, so they have to exercise.
“We are out on the Heath with everyone else, every day, socially distanced, and the horses are fit and well. It is testament to the staff more than anything to do with the trainer.”
Kingman, a son of Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) - who stands at Juddmonte Farms’ Banstead Manor base - and he joins Persian King as the stallion’s other elite level winner and he will be represented in Australia this season by his Group 2-winning son Calyx, who will stand at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley for a fee of $17,600 (inc GST).
Palace Pier is special... John Gosden's colt arrived on the big stage with a stunning performance in the St James's Palace! @Ascot
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2020
