Kinross a class above at Ascot

Kingman's Kinross captured his second Group 1 in as many weeks with a commanding performance in the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.

Taken from the thoroughbred Daily News, 16th October 2022, by Sean Cronin:

Marc Chan's Kinross registered a belated first top-level triumph in ParisLongchamp's Gr.1 Prix de la Forêt at the beginning of this month and doubled that tally with a dominant display in Saturday's Gr.1 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

The gelded five-year-old initiated his latest purple patch with victories over seven furlongs in August's Gr.2 City of York Stakes and September's Gr.2 Park Stakes 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, geared down, by an impressive two and a quarter lengths. Last year's winner Creative Force 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. 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 [Gr.1] 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 [Gr.1] 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."