Seventh Group win for Kinross as he triumphs in the Lennox

Kingman's Kinross denied Isaac Shelby in a thrilling finish to win the Gr.2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood for the second time.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 2nd August 2023, by Sean Cronin:

The field for yesterday's G.2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood was reduced by a third after three of the nine original nominees were withdrawn, but nonetheless produced a thrilling finish in which Marc Chan's 2021 winner Kinross defeated Gr.1 Poule d'Essai de Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby to become the third dual winner of the seven furlong contest.

Last term's Gr.1 Prix de la Foret and Gr.1 British Champions Sprint hero was swiftly into stride from the inside stall and raced along the rail in third before slipping to fourth at halfway. Shaken up at the cutaway with a quarter-mile remaining, the 10-11 favourite was ridden along to launch his bid entering the final furlong and kept on well under continued urging to withstand the persistent challenge of Isaac Shelby by a neck. The pair drew three lengths clear of the remainder headed by last term's Gr.2 Vintage Stakes winner and 28-1 outsider Marbaan (Oasis Dream).

"Kinross has spent a good chunk of the last 48 hours with his left fore in a bucket because he trod on a stone," trainer Ralph Beckett said of last year's runner-up and Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Mile third. "He's got very, very thin soles and he feels every pinprick, but when he gets here he loves it. He should have won it last year, he got trapped in and got there too late, but what a horse to own and what a horse to train."

He added: "He likes soft ground because he is out of a Selkirk mare, but over a mile he handles it quick and we'll take the same route [as last year] again. He'll go to York, he might go to Doncaster for the [Gr.2] Park Stakes and I hope he'll go to Longchamp for the [Gr.1 Prix de la] Foret, the [Gr.1 British Champions] Sprint at Ascot, and Santa Anita [for the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Mile]. He is a gelding, that's what he's there for and he's got to dance every dance. He could go to Hong Kong, particularly with his owner being Hong Kong-based, and there is an idea that that might happen as well. We might have to duck one of the races here to ensure he gets there at the end of the year, but it's a good problem to have."

Frankie Dettori commented: "Kinross keeps bringing in the money every year. He is super consistent, he's versatile and seven furlongs is his favourite trip. All the credit goes to the Beckett team and this horse. He is a star."