Racing

Exceptional miler and Classic winner Kingman retired to stud

Gosden-trained colt misses QEII stakes as throat infection to need ongoing treatment

Jockey James Doyle rides Kingman to win the St James’s Palace Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot in June 2014. Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
Jockey James Doyle rides Kingman to win the St James’s Palace Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot in June 2014. Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
Mon Sept 22 2014 - 19:18

Exceptional miler Kingman has been retired to stud, confirmed Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.

The John Gosden-trained colt was being trained for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Qipco Champions Day but he has yet to recover from a throat infection. Connections still hoped the three-year-old would make the showpiece, but time has now been called on a decorated career.

“Kingman is to be retired to Banstead Manor Stud for the 2015 stud season. The throat infection will still need ongoing treatment which will rule out the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and also the Breeders Cup,” said Grimthorpe.

Richard Hannon is now likely to amend amend his plans for the October 18th showpiece in the wake of Kingman's retirement.

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As it is, only 2000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder is a definite for the race, with Toronado and Olympic Glory aimed elsewhere.

Hannon had said that if Kingman “doesn’t run we’ll send a lorry load”.

“Night Of Thunder will run regardless and he has beaten Kingman before. Ryan [Moore] said if the ground was a little bit easier he’d have nearly won the Moulin. Ryan admitted he was a bit further behind than he wanted to be.

“Toronado could run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile or the QEII. The Champion Stakes is a thought that is up in the air. He settles better now . . . It would look great on his CV if he could go close over 10 furlongs in a Champion Stakes. Olympic Glory will probably go for the Foret.”

Ol’ Man River heads a seven-strong representation from the Aidan O’Brien stable for the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket this Saturday.

Ol’ Man River cost €2.85 million at Goffs and made the perfect start when impressing in a maiden at the Curragh last month. He also holds an entry in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at HQ on Thursday and in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes there on Sunday.

Sixteen acceptors remain in the Group Two contest over the Rowley Mile, including Elm Park, supplemented by trainer Andrew Balding.

The Phoenix Reach colt was an all-the-way winner of the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury on his latest start.

Mick Halford’s two leading juveniles have run their last races of the season and the trainer hopes they will develop into Classic contenders.

Toscanini, owned by Godolphin and the Aga Khan-owned filly Raydara have been put away for the winter.