Duc de kent

Duc de Kent is a five-year-old gelding by Zelzal, trained in Worcestershire by Ian Williams. He has already taken Deva Racing owners around the world and has plenty more exploring to do.

A son of the one-raced Red Ransom mare Public Ransom, who is herself a half-sister to nine black-type performers, Duc de Kent began his career in the care of Fabrice Vermeulen in France. He displayed distinct promise in five starts as a two-year-old and then broke his maiden on the ultra-competitive Cagnes-sur-Mer winter circuit early in his three-year-old campaign. 

A second success and defeat of the classy Al Barq a few weeks later earned Duc de Kent a step up in grade in the Listed Prix Omnium II, where he was a creditable fifth behind the subsequent Gr.3 winner and Gr.1 Poule d’essai des Poulains fourth American Flag. He continued to keep good company and was second in the Listed Derby du Midi at Bordeaux a few starts later.

That was to be his final run for the Vermeulen yard before his transfer to the internationally-minded Williams stable via the 2023 Arqana Deauville Summer Mixed Sale.

Ian’s many globetrotting successes include with top sprinter Sir Maximilian at Meydan in 2015 and 2016, and he returned to the same track to win a £50,000 handicap with talented stayer Enemy in January of 2023. Indeed, the same horse earned over £800,000 for finishing second in the 1m7f Gr.3 handicap on Saudi Cup Day in Riyadh for the last two years, so it is fair to say that the trainer knows his way around the international programme book.

Duc de Kent was immediately sent on his travels after joining the Williams yard, finishing a creditable sixth behind the subsequent Bahrain Triple Crown winner Isle Of Jura on his debut in the country. Although a little below his best in a few more Bahraini appearances and since returning to the UK, the upshot is that he is down to a British mark of 84. That looks exceptionally lenient based on his French form, and he is sure to capitalise soon.

Proven on both turf and all-weather, from 1m to 1m2f, and in a range of different jurisdictions, this highly talented individual can win races domestically before heading back on his travels later in the year. All the ingredients are in place for an exciting adventure!