Ascot off Kinsale King agenda

Royal Ascot is not likely to be on Kinsale King’s agenda again as trainer Carl O’Callaghan ponders other targets after his defence of Saturday’s Dubai Golden Shaheen.

But while Kinsale King – who was third to Starspangledbanner in last year’s Golden Jubilee before disappointing in the July Cup – will focus on Asian sprints, O’Callaghan could still arrive for the English summer highlight with a couple of other horses up his sleeve.

O’Callaghan has led an eventful life so far, even spending a period homeless while trying to make his way in America but he now has 35 horses in California.

He appeared impressed with Kinsale King’s progress as he breezed around the Meydan circuit on Tuesday morning.

“After Ascot I maybe ran him back a little close at Newmarket but I prepared him for the Breeders’ Cup and he was seventh on the dirt,” said O’Callaghan.

“He’s sharp and happy and we’re glad to be back. I gave him a prep at Golden Gate Fields before bringing him out here and he won that in really good fashion.

“I don’t know about Royal Ascot this year, we might look at Singapore and Hong Kong.”

Of his new prospects, he went on: “I’ve got a horse called Leaving New York that I really like. He was fourth in a Grade One on his first start in open company (the Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar). He could just be an Ascot horse.

“I also have a maiden three-year-old called Euro Asian. I like him but I’ll have to give him a run first.”