By Tom Frary
Kick On entered the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy on the back of an all-the-way maiden win over a mile here in September and was not disgraced when just over three-lengths sixth coning from behind in the end-of-term Doncaster examination. In rude health on this return, the bay was sent straight to the stand's rail and the lead with Oisin Murphy keen to repeat the tactics of his last success with Ballydoyle's Western Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in close attendance. Seeing off that 6-4 favourite by the final two furlongs, he was dragged into a battle by Walkinthesand but refused to buckle as they tussled to the line clear of the well-supported Boerhan. Qatar's David Redvers said, “We didn't know what to expect and he was a little bit buzzy beforehand, but the hood worked and John [Gosden] was very happy with him. He's a lovely straightforward horse with lots of natural energy and my hunch is he'll drop back in trip now.”
Gosden, who was winning this for the third time in five years, was also suggesting that a drop back to a mile will be in order. “The jockey is talking about the French 2000 Guineas [the May 12 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp] and we will possibly look at that with him,” he said. Richard Hannon was pleased with the effort of Walkinthesand and commented, “He obviously needs a trip now and he has got a few nice entries. He is in the [May 16 G2] Dante [at York] and French Derby [G1 Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly June 2] and things like that. He was just a bit out on his own and it appears today you want to be next to that rail. When he has worked, he has always not worked the best of the group. He has always worked like he wants a trip and a lot of good horses do that. He keeps finding a bit.”
Kick On's fast and useful dam Marika now has three black-type winners to her credit, with the others being the French dual listed scorer Sabratah and Raw Impulse who won at that level in Australia. The former, who was also third in the G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise, went on to produce Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles runner-up Syrtis (GB) (Frankel {GB}) so it could be that Kick On meets his relative if he goes to the Jockey-Club after the Poulains. With the 2-year-old colt King of Arms (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and a yearling colt by Oasis Dream (GB) to follow, she is also the dam of Godolphin's Nordic Lights (GB) (Intello {Ger}) who was almost sent off favourite for last year's G2 Dante S. after winning at this meeting.
Marika's G3 Fred Darling S.-winning half-sister Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) produced the G1 Prix d'Ispahan scorer Best of the Bests (Ire) (Machiavellian), while this family has really gone places in the last year. Showout (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) took last year's Listed Prix Zeddaan, Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass) captured the G2 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Summer S. and Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) enjoyed glory in the G3 Lexus S. and finished third in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
BET365 FEILDEN S.-Listed, £40,000, Newmarket, 4-16, 3yo, 9fT, 1:51.16, g/f.
1–KICK ON (GB), 126, c, 3, by Charm Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Marika (GB) (SW-Eng), by Marju (Ire)
2nd Dam: Nordica (Ire), by Northfields
3rd Dam: Princess Arabella (Ire), by Crowned Prince
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (80,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; 135,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Shutford Stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $44,203. *1/2 to Sabratah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), MSW & GSP-Fr, 165,478; and Raw Impulse (GB) (Makfi {GB}), SW & GSP-NZ, $209,854.
2–Walkinthesand (Ire), 126, c, 3, Footstepsinthesand (GB)">Footstepsinthesand (GB)–Masseera (Ire), by Alzao. (180,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Saeed Suhail. £8,600.
3–Boerhan (GB), 126, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Greenisland (Ire), by Fasliyev. (270,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Stonethorn Stud Farms Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £4,304.
Margins: NK, 4HF, 1. Odds: 2.00, 14.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Kadar, Western Australia (Ire), I'll Have Another (Ire). Scratched: Spanish Mission. Click for the Racing Post result.
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