Kingman has reigned supreme in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville despite trainer John Gosden’s fears the ground would be too soft.
Gosden and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, walked the Normandy course several times before confirming Kingman would start.
Just as he showed in the Irish Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes, Kingman produced his customary sprint with little encouragement from James Doyle to dominate the finish.
Doyle waited patiently before unleashing Kingman inside the final furlong (200m) and he burst 2-1/2 lengths clear of Anodin.
Frankie Dettori was always hard at work on last year’s runner-up Olympic Glory who never looked likely to trouble Kingman, eventually settling for third.
Gosden said the final decision to allow Kingman to run was down to Abdullah.
“It was a 50-50 (to run) in my mind, and a very sporting gesture by the Prince,” Gosden said.
“I didn’t think he was entirely in love with the ground – it was different to anything else he had faced – but he’s got a wonderful temperament and showed he can cope with anything.
“The plan is now the QEII (Ascot, October 18), which has always been his end-of-year objective.
“I’m very proud because the Jacques le Marois is the most prestigious mile race in France.”
