Irish 2,000 Guineas plan for Cosmic Year

Cosmic Year maintained his unbeaten record in the TrustATrader King Charles II Stakes at Newmarket for Harry Charlton.

Back on turf having impressed on the all-weather at Kempton, the Juddmonte-owned Kingman colt reaffirmed he has a very bright future.

He had been left in the 2000 Guineas until the final declaration stage, but with his owners also having the favourite for that in Field Of Gold it was decided they would split their aces.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, he travelled like the best horse in the race and while for a few strides it looked as if the 6-4 favourite could have a race on his hands as Andrew Balding’s Marvelman emerged as a threat, once Moore got him back on an even keel he went on to win by a comfortable length and a half.

Charlton said: “The race didn’t pan out exactly how he would have wanted. The two to his right split right and Ryan said he thought they were all going to go that way and they didn’t and Ryan said he wished he’d followed them. He said he would have been more impressive.

“He didn’t handle the dip perfectly, but Ryan liked the way he knuckled down in the final furlong. He could see why I didn’t want to come here for a quick ground Guineas and it was well watered today and absolutely fine.

“He said he would be quite comfortable on quicker ground when meeting the rising ground at somewhere like Ascot – he said he would be more comfortable there than here, which was also on our minds.

“He’s quick, but one of the benefits we’ve always seen is his ability to relax like he did at Sandown with no cover and at Kempton in a slowly-run race. He has this chameleon-like ability to be happy going 32mph to then quicken to 43mph and I think that will hold him in good stead when he moves into better quality races with a more natural and normal field shape.”

With Field Of Gold and Jonquil plotted for the English and French versions of the 2000 Guineas respectively, it could now be down to Cosmic Year to head to the Curragh for the Irish equivalent on May 24.

Charlton added: “Barry Mahon and Prince Khalid’s family made the right call, they had three horses who could have run in the Guineas. Let’s hope Field Of Gold can win and we’ve come here with the view of going to the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Jonquil is going to the French. If Juddmonte could win all three, that would be great.

“He won’t stay further than a mile and we’ll see how we go. I think the plan will be to go to Ireland and that should suit, you generally get a good pace there and lots of space to ride them differently. Whether that leads on to the St James’s Palace it will depend on results and of course what happens with the other Juddmonte horses.”

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for the owners, added: “I think we all saw why we came here today rather than tomorrow, he’s still rather green and he’s won two races really easily in maiden and novice company where he didn’t really learn a lot.

“I think today could be the making of him and Ryan was very complimentary of him, which is always good.

“Coming into this race we had a very loose plan of Ireland and we’ll have to see how he comes out of this. Ryan said he wouldn’t want it too quick and that’s something we will have to bear in mind for the rest of his campaign.

“But if he comes out of this well and the owners are happy we’ll go to Ireland.”