Duc de kent
£4500.00 per 5% Share +
£175 Per Month Training Fee
Duc de Kent is a four-year-old son of Zelzal who is trained in Worcestershire by Ian Williams. Listed-placed in France at three, he has already taken Deva Racing owners around the world and has plenty more exploring to do.
He is a son of the one-raced Red Ransom mare Public Ransom, who is a half-sister to the Stakes-race winners Kreem (Hurricane Run), Sardaukar (Royal Academy), Kindjhal (Ashkalani), Rostrum (Shamardal), and Alta Stima (Raven’s Pass).
Duc de Kent began his career in the care of Fabrice Vermeulen in France, displaying distinct promise in five starts as a two-year-old and then breaking his maiden on the ultra-competitive Cagnes-sur-Mer winter circuit early in his three-year-old campaign.
A second success and defeat of the classy Al Barq (Al Wukair) a few weeks later earned Duc de Kent a step up in grade in the Listed Prix Omnium II, where he was a creditable fifth behind the subsequent Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 Poule d’essai des Poulains fourth American Flag (Wootton Bassett). Although things did not go to plan on his next start in a Gr.3 contest behind the top-class Big Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar) – subsequently winner of the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and second in the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club – just two starts later he earned valuable black-type when second in the Listed Derby du Midi at Bordeaux.
That was to be his final run for the Vermeulen yard before his transfer to the internationally-minded Williams stable via the 2023 Arqana Deauville Summer Mixed Sale.
Ian’s previous international successes include Sir Maximilian (Royal Applause) in a Gr.3 sprint at Meydan in 2015, while he returned to the same track to win a £50,000 handicap with talented stayer Enemy (Muhaarar) in January of last year. Indeed, the same horse earned over £700,000 by finishing second in the 1m7f Gr.3 handicap on Saudi Cup Day in Riyadh for the last two years.
Duc de Kent was immediately sent on his travels after joining the Williams yard, finishing a highly creditable sixth behind the subsequent Bahrain Triple Crown winner Isle Of Jura (New Approach) on his debut in the country. Although a little below his best in a few more Bahraini appearances and since returning to the UK, the upshot is that he is down to a British mark of 87. That looks exceptionally lenient based on his French form of less than a year ago and he is sure to capitalise.
Duc de Kent is a proven performer on both turf and the all-weather, from 1m to 1m2f, and in a range of different jurisdictions. He can win races at home before heading back on his travels later in the year; all the ingredients are in place for an exciting adventure!