Kingston Hill

Kingston Hill put up a nice performance to win the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Held up out the back in the early stages, last of the eight runners, Roger Varian’s horse showed a nice turn of foot to come from the rear, past all his rivals, and bravely through a narrow enough gap a furlong and a half out. He joined the leader Oklahoma City just inside the final furlong, and he powered away impressively to put two lengths between himself and his pursuer by the time he reached the winning line.

There was a lot to like about this performance. Oklahoma City set a high standard. Second in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes, Aidan O’Brien’s horse had won a valuable sales race over seven furlongs at this track on his previous run, and he had the run of the race here, up front and flush against the stands rail. Kingston Hill had to make his ground into a quickening pace and through traffic, and he had to challenge one off the rail, so it was to his credit that he won as well as he did.

A son of Mastercraftsman out of a Rainbow Quest mare, this was just his second ever race – he won his maiden over seven furlongs on soft ground at Newbury in September – he was the least experienced horse in the race, and he should continue to progress as he gains in experience and as he steps up in distance. This race was won last year by Trading Leather, who obviously won the Irish Derby this year and who could have been a player in the Epsom Derby had the presence of his stable companion Dawn Approach not influenced the decision for him to miss the race, and Kingston Hill could be a really useful middle-distance colt next season.

12th October 2013