Animal Kingdom's Ascot Diary: Gallop day at Lambourn

It was gallop day for Animal Kingdom at Lambourn on Wednesday morning, UK time, and this time he was ridden by jockey Ted Durcan, who afterwards told part-owner Barry Irwin of Team Valor, “He’s moving great, I’d be over the moon.”

“The most exuberant he’s been,” was the observation of David Lanigan whose Kingsdown Stables have been home to the Dubai World Cup winner during his time in England.

“The best work he’s done since he’s been here,” says Alice Clapham, travelling assistant trainer for US-based Graham Motion who is managing Animal Kingdom’s Royal Ascot preparation from his home in Maryland.

Animal Kingdom worked in company over five furlongs on the uphill polytrack gallop known as “The Long” and was timed at 1.02.

Winner of five of his 11 starts and $US8.3 million, Animal Kingdom is the favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes G1, the opening race of the Royal Ascot meeting on 18 June. This spring he will join the roster at Arrowfield Stud where his fee has been set at $38,500 inc. GST.