John Gosden is keeping a close watch on the ground at Deauville and has yet to confirm Kingman a definite starter in Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois.
The Newmarket trainer walked the course before Western Hymn finished fourth behind Gailo Chop in Friday’s Group Two Prix Guillaume D’Ornano.
Gosden’s concerns about the going for superstar miler Kingman grew after an inch of rain fell during Thursday night and jockey William Buick reported the ground to be testing after partnering Western Hymn.
“It’s pretty terrible ground and he (Western Hymn) didn’t like it at all,” Gosden said.
“I walked the track before racing today and will do the same again on Sunday, before deciding whether Kingman will run.”
The colt showed a blistering turn of foot to dispense with the classy Toronado when he took on older horses for the first time in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood less than three weeks ago.
Toronado’s team turn to Olympic Glory in another bid to lower the colours of Kingman and he is likely to have the soft ground he loves as he goes for a fourth win at the top level.
Winner of the Lockinge Stakes in the spring, Richard Hannon’s charge has been kept for this race since finishing fourth to Cirrus Des Aigles in the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp at the end of May.
“Richard reports him to be in very good form,” Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners Al Shaqab Racing, said.
“Kingman will be a mighty tough nut to crack. We shouldn’t be frightened of one horse, but any sane person would be frightened of Kingman.”
Coronation Stakes winner Rizeena flies the flag for three-year-old fillies with the six declarations completed by Andre Fabre’s Prix Rothschild winner Esoterique, Freddy Head’s Queen Anne Stakes third Anodin and Red Dubawi, who is now trained in Germany by Erika Mader.
