Kinsale King, the Comeback Kid
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Photo:
Eclipse Spotswire
Three years ago Kinsale King was an American hero, but these
days the dark bay gelded son of Yankee Victor is largely forgotten. It’s hardly surprising that most have not
given him a thought in a couple of years, since it’s been nearly that long since
he has raced and longer than that since he last visited the winner’s circle. All
that will change come Friday, though, when the Group 1 winner returns to the
starting gate for the first time since finishing 9th in the 2011
running of the Pirate’s Bounty Stakes.
Back in 2010, Kinsale King was a world traveler. Though he
only raced 5 times that year, his campaign took him to 3 different countries
and 5 different tracks. He began the year strongly, reeling off victories in
the G2 Palos Verdes Handicap and the G1 Golden Shaheen, but after stunning the
Golden Shaheen field, he dropped three straight races. He raced just 4 times
the following year, and after only managing to hit the board (and win) in an
allowance race, trainer Carl O’Callaghan decided to give Kinsale King a long
layoff.
O’Callaghan began to seriously train Kinsale King over the
winter in the hopes of getting in a prep over the tapeta at Golden Gate Fields
before heading back to Dubai to try to repeat in the Golden Shaheen. He quickly
learned that even the best laid plans don’t always work out. Kinsale King
originally re-entered training last summer, but just as he was beginning to
show his old form, he started having problems with his feet, an issue that had
plagued him his whole career. Though it was never made clear why Kinsale King
didn’t make it back to the races in time to prep for Dubai, it is likely that
his foot issues were the culprit yet again.
On Friday, Kinsale King faces a field of six in race 7 at
Betfair Hollywood Park, a five furlong allowance race over the turf. Callaghan
had stated that he wanted to try to find an easy spot for his barn favorite,
but Kinsale King will likely face some competition from the multiple graded
stakes placed Chosen Miracle, who has faced some of the top guns in California
over the past year. As for future plans for Kinsale King, Callaghan has made it
clear that if his charge doesn’t want to be a graded stakes type horse, then he
won’t push him. He will never run him for a tag; if nothing else, Kinsale King
will become a much beloved barn pet.
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