Kingsgate Native has rolled back the years to make a brilliant return to winning form in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.
On a long losing run since the same race three years ago when he was trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the dual Group One winning eight-year-old is now with sprint specialist Robert Cowell.
The field split, and Kingsgate Native (14-1) was on the stands side along with the hot favourite Sole Power, while the unbeaten Reckless Abandon was stuck on the far group.
As Sole Power began to weaken to finish fourth, Shane Kelly galvanised Kingsgate Native to take the spoils by a neck from the unlucky Swiss Spirit, with the previously unbeaten Reckless Abandon a head behind in third.
“He’s quirky and things have to fall right for him. He was as cool as a cucumber out there,” Cowell said.
“He still showed a flash of brilliance last year and he’s been training like a very good horse.
“We’ll celebrate and have a chat about what to go for at Royal Ascot.
“He’s like a spring chicken. He bucks and he squeals on a morning. He’s a happy camper.”
As a two-year-old, Kingsgate Native won the Nunthorpe Stakes. He later went to stud but was not a success and was subsequently gelded and brought back to the track.
