Lead Artist rebounds with first Group 1 score in Lockinge Stakes
Last of eight, beaten 13 lengths by victorious Dancing Gemini in the Bet365 Mile last month at Sandown Park, Lead Artist finished first, a neck in front of favored Dancing Gemini, in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes on Saturday at Newbury Racecourse in England.
For the second year in a row, father-son co-trainers John and Thady Gosden upset the Lockinge, a straight mile that annually kicks off older-horse Group 1 flat action in England and Ireland, though Lead Artist’s triumph Saturday wasn’t as surprising as that of Audience a year ago. Lead Artist, who drifted up to early odds of about 18-1 a few hours before the Lockinge, got sustained late support and paid $18.20 to win.
It was Dancing Gemini who looked a certain Lockinge hero with a furlong remaining in the Lockinge. Ridden for the first time by Ryan Moore, Dancing Gemini, closer to the tail than the head of the field half-way through, cruised easily into contention, as he’d done starting his 2025 campaign with a pair of victories. And even though Moore had to ask more of his mount than Dancing Gemini’s jockey in his last two races, Dancing Gemini responded, surging to the lead with about a furlong remaining. But instead of folding his hand, Lead Artist, who’d pressed the pace, fought on, getting back on terms with Dancing Gemini, then back in front a few jumps before the wire.
Oisin Murphy rode Lead Artist for the first time, the Gosdens earlier this month having relieved Kieran Shoemark from duties as the stable’s first-call rider. Shoemark picked up the mount on Fallen Angel, who set the pace and faded to sixth. Dancing Gemini, narrowly denied a first Group 1 win, finished more than two lengths clear of third-place Rosallion, who almost certainly needed his first start since June. Fourth, a nose behind Rosallion, came Notable Speech, starting for the first time since a third-place finish this past November in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Lead Artist never had tried Group 1 competition, brought slowly and steadily along, as often happens in the Gosden yard, and going 5-2-2-1 with competitive Group 2 showings last season. Now 4, Lead Artist is a Juddmonte homebred, the first foal to race out of the Frankel mare Obligate, whose mating with Dubawi produced Lead Artist.
John Gosden said Lead Artist likely would make his next start on opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting in the Queen Anne Stakes provided the Ascot course doesn’t become too rain softened. Newbury on Saturday was on the firm side of good, Lead Artist holding firm himself for a Group 1 breakthrough.
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