Kew Gardens (horse)

Kew Gardens (foaled 20 January 2015) is an Irish

He was sired by Galileo, who won the Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo went on to become an outstanding sire of winners and has been champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland nine times. His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found, Minding and Ruler of the World.^[2] Kew Gardens' dam Chelsea Rose as a high-class racemare who won five races including the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She is descended from Senones, a full-sister to the Prix du Jockey Club winner Sicambre.^[3]

Racing career

2017: two-year-old season

Kew Gardens began his racing career by finishing seventh in a

Kew Gardens was then sent to France for the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 2400 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 14 July and started the 7/5 favourite against five opponents including Neufbosc (Prix du Lys), Dee Ex Bee and Nelson. Ridden by Moore he was settled towards the rear of the field before taking the lead 300 metres out and kept on well in the closing stages to win by 1+1⁄4 lengths from Neufbosc.^[9] O'Brien said "The idea with bringing him back to a mile and a half is that we could have a look at whether the King George would be suitable. That's probably where he'll go next".^[10] The colt bypassed the King George for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York Racecourse in August in which he carried a five-pound weight penalty for his Group 1 success and was beaten into third place behind Old Persian and Cross Counter.

The 242nd running of the St Leger over 14+1⁄2 furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse on 15 September attracted a field of twelve runners with Kew Gardens going of the 3/1 second choice in the betting behind the previously unbeaten filly Lah Ti Dar. The other runners included Loxley (Grand Prix de Deauville), Old Persian, Dee Ex Bee, Nelson, Southern France, Maid Up (March Stakes) and The Pentagon (Tyros Stakes). Moore tracked the leaders before making a sustained run on the outside in the straight. Kew Gardens went to the front two furlongs out and stayed on strongly to win by 2+1⁄4 lengths from Lah Ti Dar with a gap of 4+1⁄2 lengths back to Southern France in third.^[11] After the race Moore said "It was very smooth. He's a very uncomplicated horse and he tries very hard. He's got a great attitude to life and he picked up really well. He's a super horse".^[12] In the 2018 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on 7 October the colt started the 8/1 fourth choice in the betting in a nineteen-runner field. After being restrained by Moore towards the rear he made steady progress in the straight without ever looking likely to win and finished seventh, four lengths behind the winner Enable.

2019: four-year-old season

Kew Gardens began his third campaign in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester Racecourse on 9 May. He was made the 4/5 favourite despite carrying top weight of 133 pounds but was never able to get on terms with the enterprisingly ridden Morando and was beaten eight lengths into second place. On his next race the colt contested the Coronation Cup at Epsom three weeks later in which he led inside the final furlong before being overtaken and beaten half a length by Defoe. The colt was then aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup but sustained a back injury in training which kept him off the track until autumn.^[13]

After a lengthy break Kew Gardens returned in autumn for the Irish St. Leger over fourteen furlongs at the Curragh on 15 September. After racing towards the rear of the field he stayed on strongly in the straight but registered his third successive second place as he was beaten just over two lengths by the three-year-old filly Search For A Song. In the British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles at Ascot on 19 October Kew Gardens was partnered by Donnacha O'Brien and started the 7/2 second favourite behind Stradivarius in a nine-runner field which also included Withhold (Rose Bowl Stakes), Royal Line (September Stakes), Capri and Cleonte (Queen Alexandra Stakes). After racing in third place behind Withhold and Capri, Kew Gardens took the lead in the straight and although he was headed by Stradivarius he rallied to regain the advantage in the final strides and won by a nose.^[14] Aidan O'Brien commented "we were training him for the Gold Cup and he got an injury and it all went pear shaped so we're just so lucky to get him back. He pulled all the muscles in his back just before Ascot. He barely made it back for the Irish St. Leger and that race just didn't go right. He's an incredible horse... He's a very brave horse, so I'm delighted. I'd say the Gold Cup next year would definitely be the target if he stayed in training next year".^[13]

Stud career

It was announced in June 2020 that Kew Gardens would be retired from racing and stand at Castlehyde Stud for Coolmore as a National Hunt stallion.^[15]

Pedigree

References

External links

• Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Kew Gardens