Kitten’s Joy’s Roaring Lion Pounces In the Juddmonte

[Wandering Eyes]

   After a battle royal in Sandown’s G1 Eclipse July 7, Qatar Racing’s Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) was able to saunter through Wednesday’s first real clash of the generations in York’s G1 Juddmonte International and cast himself as the division leader. Always travelling with zest and purpose under cover with Oisin Murphy intent on employing the hold-up tactics that worked so well in the Eclipse despite the moderate pace, the 3-1 second favourite was able to cruise to the front approaching the furlong pole as the 8-5 favourite Poet’s Word (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) became stuck in traffic as the field took the unusual step of coming stand’s side. Sent clear as James Doyle got the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and King George hero into his top gear, Roaring Lion was 3 1/4 lengths to the good at the line, with Poet’s Word only a half length in front of former handicapper and G2 York S. winner Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate) in third. “It worked to plan and he’s a very special horse,” his rider said. “He wasn’t the most straightforward, but they’ve done a lot of work with him at home and now he’s an outstanding horse.” John Gosden added, “This is a proper mile-and-a-quarter horse who has got bigger and stronger and he’s done nothing but improve since a difficult spring.”

ROARING LION, 125, c, 3, by Kitten’s Joy
1st Dam: Vionnet (GISP-US, $175,140), by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Cambiocorsa, by Avenue of Flags
3rd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet
($160,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Ran Jan Racing Inc (KY); T-John Gosden; J-Oisin Murphy. £602,544. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-2, £1,437,625.

View the full article