Trainer Roger Teal lit up the board in the 2018 G1 2000 Guineas with Anne Cowley's Tip Two Win (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who finished second to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at 5-1, and Teal is aiming to go one better in this year's Guineas, when it happens, with Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie {Jpn}).
Bought for £45,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale last year, Kenzai Warrior subsequently went unbeaten in two outings, breaking his maiden at Salisbury on Sept. 5 before taking Newmarket's G2 Horris Hill S. over seven furlongs on Nov. 2. Teal said he sees the colt as a Guineas/Derby type.
“He never stopped growing last year, that's why I took my time with him,” Teal said. “I actually made an entry for him in the Derby at the second stage in April, because he'd probably be suited by a mile and a half, I'd say. He's a galloper really and might be suited to it, but all plans are up in the air. If the races are spaced out, you'd probably have a crack at both [Guineas and Derby]. The Guineas has always been a great trial for the Derby and as long as the timings are right there'd be no reason he couldn't do both.”
Kenzai Warrior, despite the delay, is in good order.
“He's like a bear at the moment, he's one of those horses that enjoys what he does and he could do with a race, really,” Teal said. “He's fresh and well every morning; he comes out like Muhammad Ali and wants to box you, but when the lads are on him he's a brilliant ride. He's just one of those that wants to get out and get on with it.
Teal said his two most recent stable stars are rather different colts.
“Tip Two Win had an electric turn of foot, whereas Kenzai is a totally different kettle of fish, he's more of a big, rangy galloper,” he said. “If he stays, then that could be interesting.”
The 5-year-old Tip Two Win is also ready to get back to action, having been off since trailing in last of eight in the G2 Summer Mile in July. He made just two starts last year, finishing off the board in both.
“I wanted to start him off in the John O'Gaunt at Haydock, but that's gone by the wayside now as well,” Teal said. “What I'd like to find for him is a nice listed race or conditions race just to get his confidence back. He's been such a star for us and everything went wrong last year. If I could get his head back in front I'm sure he'll just build on that again and he's training really well. He's got his old flair back. He's really filled out now and looks great in his work.”
Teal said he is a proponent of starting up racing behind closed doors sooner rather than later.
“I think we can manage it safely and it would be good for the public to have something to watch on television,” he said. “It might even encourage new people to watch racing when things get back to normal. If we don't get it back, then livelihoods are in danger.
“I suppose the confusing thing is the race programme–you want to offer some races for all types of horses, owners have stayed loyal and kept horses in training, they have to cater for all level of horses to give everyone a fair bite of the cherry. We've got probably our best team of horses, we know what we've got and are itching to let them out, but as long as everyone is healthy, that's the main thing. It's the same for all of us.”
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