By Sean Cronin
Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) registered a belated first top-level triumph in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de la Foret at the beginning of this month and doubled that tally with a dominant display in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot. Ninth contesting last year's renewal of the six-furlong dash, the gelded 5-year-old initiated his latest purple patch with victories over seven furlongs in August's G2 City of York S. and September's G2 Park S. before claiming a career high on Arc day last time. Frankie Dettori positioned the eventual winner behind the leaders racing in the smaller stands' side group and had the ideal slot in third passing halfway. Easing forward to lead soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, the 3-1 favourite held a commanding advantage entering the final furlong and was on cruise control in the closing stages to easily outclass 150-1 outsider Run To Freedom (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), geared down, by an impressive 2 1/4 lengths. Last year's winner Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) finished a neck away in third.
“What a horse, he doesn't need work and just trains himself,” exclaimed trainer Ralph Beckett. “He pulled a shoe off last Thursday and had no shoe on for three days. He's got paper-thin soles, so we had to sweat a bit. I think he's quick enough to win a July Cup and I've always had a little bit of a hankering for him to do it at this trip. Now was the time, even with a [GI] Breeders' Cup Mile on the horizon. He'll go there as well, with any luck. He's better off running than galloping and fast ground over six [furlongs] is a bit of a struggle, but soft ground over six is no bother to him. I was delighted to see him travel so well and it's just great. What a horse he is, we're blessed to have him and you wait a long time for horses like this. I trained his mother, she ran in the [G1] Oaks, so for him to be as effective over this trip gives us a real kick.”
Dettori added, “Ralph has been training fantastically this year. I kicked earlier than I usually would with him. I know seven [furlongs] is his optimum trip so I said let's go, come and catch me. Kinross loves the conditions and Ralph has found the key to this horse. He keeps him happy at home and doesn't do much with him. He is in tremendous form.”
Henry Candy was delighted with the performance of runner-up Run To Freedom and said, “That was absolutely superb. The cheekpieces have made all the difference to him, he loved the ground and he loves Ascot. In the past, without the cheekpieces, he wouldn't concentrate and the jockey couldn't ride a race. The other day, when he was fourth here, David [Probert] said something came up at the two-furlong pole, set him alight and he went too soon. So today we had the confidence to tell Dane to ride a proper race on him. He definitely needed a little bit of headgear on and, if he can keep his concentration, he will be a serious horse next year. He's a great big frame of a thing now and, if he fills out a little bit more, he could be exciting. I thought he would nearly win today. He's in great form.”
Kinross, kin to the unraced 2-year-old colt Seahouses (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), is the fifth of six foals and one of four scorers produced by Listed Gillies Fillies' S. victress Ceilidh House (GB) (Selkirk), herself kin to the dam of G3 Solario S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up First Selection (Spa) (Diktat {GB}). His dual stakes-winning second dam Villa Carlotta (GB) (Rainbow Quest), herself a daughter of multiple stakes-winning G3 Rockfel S. second Subya (GB) (Night Shift) from the family of G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Law Society (Alleged), is a half to GI Hollywood Derby second Battle of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and to the stakes-placed dam of South African Grade 1 performers Mljet (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) and Felix The Cat (SAf) (Black Minnaloushe).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 10-15, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:15.57, g/s.
1–KINROSS (GB), 130, g, 5, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Ceilidh House (GB) (SW-Eng), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Villa Carlotta (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Subya (GB), by Night Shift
O-Marc Chan; B-Lawn Stud (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £283,550. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 21-8-1-1, $1,200,916. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Run To Freedom (GB), 130, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Twilight Mistress (GB), by Bin Ajwaad (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Godfrey Wilson; B-Mrs C R D Wilson (GB); T-Henry Candy. £107,500.
3–Creative Force (Ire), 130, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Choose Me (Ire), by Choisir (Aus). (€400,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Godolphin; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,800.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, HF. Odds: 3.00, 150.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Rohaan (Ire), Tenebrism, Vadream (GB), Perfect Power (Ire), Art Power (Ire), Go Bears Go (Ire), King's Lynn (GB), Fresh (GB), Naval Crown (GB), Ventura Diamond (Ire), Brad The Brief (GB), Double Or Bubble (Ire), Gulliver (GB), Garrus (Ire), Castle Star (Ire).
So impressive! It's another Group 1 for @FrankieDettori and Kinross, as the pair win the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes at @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/KZlbZa70Mi
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 15, 2022
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