Kingman's Celandine makes all for Gr.2 Lowther Triumph

Rockcliffe Stud's Listed Empress Stakes victrix two-year-old Celandine (Kingman) produced a pillar-to-post victory in Thursday's Gr.2 Lowther Stakes at York.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 23rd August 2024, by Sean Cronin:

The 13-2 chance broke sharply and seized an immediate lead in this six-furlong two-year-old contest. Holding a slender advantage throughout, she came under pressure soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final furlong to hold the late charge of Time For Sandals by a neck for a career high. Wathnan Racing's Leovanni, lumbered with a three-pound penalty for her Gr.2 Queen Mary Stakes success, made late headway to finish a length and a half back in third, a half-length in front of Aidan O'Brien trainee Heavens Gate.

"I haven't had a buzz like that for a long time, I don't know why but it really got me," admitted trained Ed Walker. "I really fancied her at Goodwood when she kind of disappointed, she disappointed in France too and I stupidly took on the colts at Goodwood hunting for fast ground when I was probably over-thinking it a bit too much. Today was very special, the way she does it, she's so tough. I think she got a bit lonely at Goodwood, we had to use a lot of gas early over five down that hill, drawn out on a wing, whereas today she was in amongst it and surged forward. She's very quick, very tough, very genuine and Tom [Marquand] gets on brilliantly with her. She's cool."

"She's properly quick, an out-and-out sprinter, and I got my leg pulled for putting her in the [Gr.1] Moyglare, but the Lowther will do. I guess the [Gr.1] Cheveley Park and then the Breeders' Cup has got to be the plan."