Kikkuli (GB) Shoots for Grade 1 Glory in Saturday’s Coolmore Turf Mile
At 0h39, on October 5, 2024 • By KEENELAND
Juddmonte’s Kikkuli (GB) has a lot to live up to as a half-brother to Frankel (GB), an undefeated racehorse who is now one of the world’s great sires.
“That’s a bit of baggage,” trainer Harry Charlton said with a shrug Thursday morning as he readied Kikkuli’s preparations for Saturday’s $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1).
Kikkuli enters the Coolmore Turf Mile off a close fourth-place finish in the BetVictor Hungerford Stakes (G2) at Newbury in England on Aug. 17. He has won one of six races with his best efforts coming over good to firm ground, which he figures to have Saturday.
“This is a good opportunity for him to get a Grade 1,” Charlton said. “Given his pedigree, it is important to get one. There was only one race left at the end of October at Ascot (in England) and by that time, the ground should be very soft.”
Charlton, who took over training duties for his father, Roger, last year, is making his first trip to Keeneland. He took Thursday morning to get the lay of the land after Kikkuli went through his paces on the all-weather Training Track.
“First time here. My dad was here for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup (with Time Test-GB, who finished 10th in the Mile),” Charlton said.
Kikkuli is the final foal from Kind (trained by Roger Charlton), who died six days after producing Kikkuli at age 20. In addition to Frankel, Kikkuli is a half-brother to three-time Group 1 winner Noble Mission (GB).
Kikkuli will be ridden by Frankie Dettori on Saturday. The race is a “Win and You’re In” Challenge race for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF to be run Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
