2014 Flat Edition 18 - spoon very much up for grabs

Headlines

Sole Has the Power At York

Absolutely So Wins City of York.

Light Leads The way in Ireland

Report

We start at York last Friday where in the 7f listed stakes, Absolutely So ( Martin) went to post, tracked leaders, headway 3 out, chased leader 2 out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, kept on well towards finish, winning by 1 ½ l. He gets 35.8 points.

In the 5f Group 1 Nunthorpe stakes Sole Power ( Cliff, Cod), went to post, held up in rear, headway and switched over 1 out, not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, squeezed through and quickend well close home to lead last 40 yards, winning by ½ l. He gets 53.5 points. 

On Sunday at the Curragh in the 1m 6f group 3 Leading Light ( Bob, Cliff, Cod, Lee, Neil, Tony), took his chance, held up in 3^rd, pushed along to challenge over 2 out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong ran on well and gradually asserted, winning comfortably by 1 ¾ l . He gets 16.4 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                August               Total

Lee                112.8             1126.3

Tony             131.8              816.6

Cod               123.1               763.7    

Bob                69.6               6 50.6

Steve               135               641.8

Neil                81.6               628.7

Peej              75.6                 511.3

Cliff               105.9              481.2

Martin            102.2             393.3

News

John Gosden has raised the possibility of Kingman stepping up in trip next season if the brilliant colt stays in training. Since his narrow reverse in the 2000 Guineas, the three-year-old has confirmed himself the star turn in the mile division with thrilling victories in the Irish Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois.

Given he carries the same colours of owner Khalid Abdullah, Kingman is inevitably compared to the unbeaten Frankel, who also dominated at a mile during his Classic year before proving equally dominant over a mile and a quarter as a four-year-old. "Frankel obviously went mile, mile, mile and then he stepped up to a mile and a quarter at York (Juddmonte International) and again in the Champion (Stakes) at Ascot," said Gosden.

"If he (Kingman) stayed in training next year you have the options to do similar things, but at this stage, as a three-year-old, a mile is his trip.

"You could easily bring him back (in trip) if you wanted to and as he relaxes so well, you could probably step him up in trip. If he did stay in training next year, those become options.

"I don't think any decisions will be made until the end of October. We'll sit down and discuss the matter thoroughly and see what's best and the final decision will very much rest with the owner.