HRNZ/Race Images
NEW Zealand Cup hero Kingman is out of the $NZ1 million The Race at Cambridge next month.
The one-time favourite for NZ’s equal richest race ran well below his best when sixth in the Miracle Mile.
It followed a below par run when a tiring ninth after leading in his Miracle Mile qualifier a week earlier.
Owner-breeder Mick Harvey confirmed Kingman would have a break.
“That (huge) Hunter Cup run took its toll on him,” he said. “When Swayzee was losing ground (in the Miracle Mile), he (Kingman) would normally go straight past him, but he is a tired boy,” he said. “He’s going for a break or freshen-up.”
Kingman, who beat Leap To Fame in the Victoria and NZ Cups late last year, had a busy and at times dramatic January/February.
It started on the way to the Cranbourne Cup when the float Kingman was in caught fire, forcing his evacuation and a stint standing on the side of the highway before getting to Cranbourne and running second to Leap To Fame.
Two weeks later he was badly checked soon after the start and lost all chance in the Hunter Cup.
His performance to recover and finish a close sixth to Swayzee and Leap To Fame was monstrous.
Kingman enjoyed a lovely run behind the leader, Swayzee, but didn’t respond when driver Jack Callaghan asked rounding the home bend.
“He’s just a horse, he can have a good spell now,” trainer Luke McCarthy confirmed.
The Brisbane Inter Dominion in July looks like Kingman's next logical target. - Adam Hamilton
