King reigns in Sussex duel

John Gosden’s grip on the top level of British Flat racing tightened even further as Kingman again showed stunning acceleration to prise Goodwood’s Qipco Sussex Stakes away from Toronado yesterday.

Clarehaven Stables has unleashed a legitimate champion colt and filly in less than a week, as Kingman’s victory over older horses followed just four days after Taghrooda managed the same in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Richard Hannon trails Gosden by half a million pounds in the trainers’ championship and while the title rival’s contender Toronado offered brave resistance, he was a sitting duck for 2-5 favourite Kingman off a slow pace once James Doyle had organised his mount approaching the final furlong.