Kingston Hill dominates Racing Post Trophy

Supplemented for the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster after showing

all the right signs emerging from his win in the Autumn Stakes a fortnight

earlier, Kingston Hill justified that bold move with an authoritative success on

Doncaster's Town Moor Saturday.

Always traveling comfortably off the strong early pace, the 7-2 favorite

loomed on the front-end passing the quarter pole and cleared away under Andrea

Atzeni to best Johann Strauss by 4 1/2 lengths with the rest strung out.

"He's a professional with an engine and great acceleration," trainer Roger

Varian commented. "He has a hardy, tough sensible side to him and a great

constitution. He has a great cruising speed and turn of foot, so you wouldn't be

ruling out the Guineas -- we'll see how he trains in the spring."

Understandably green on debut over seven furlongs at Newbury last month,

Kingston Hill overcame that rawness to prevail and book his ticket to Future

Champions Day at Newmarket. Rolling through from an unpromising position in rear

to overhaul Ballydoyle's enterprisingly-ridden Oklahoma City in the Autumn over

a mile, the imposing colt, who shares the same color as his industrious sire,

Mastercraftsman, had any winter break plans put on ice as he continued to thrive

on the Newmarket gallops, and was duly added to a strong and competitive renewal

of this staying test.

More forwardly placed in fifth this time, the gray was helped by the generous

pace laid on by Buonarroti, and was customarily languid as the pursuit began

with three furlongs remaining. As the front-runner continued to turn the screw

and take several of the fancied runners out of their comfort zones, it was

Kingston Hill who cut the deficit in a matter of strides before dominating a

quartet of Irish pursuers in a show of staying power throughout the final

quarter mile.

"He's a dream horse to ride, as he settles and is so laid-back, but when you

press the button he quickens," commented the rising star rider Andrea Atzeni

after guiding home his first Group 1 winner. "When he got to the front, he

pricked his ears. He's a top-class horse and although I haven't ridden many,

he's the best I've ridden so far."

Trainer Roger Varian was glowing in his praise for potentially the best horse

he has handled since the death of his boss Michael Jarvis.

"He is a true professional -- he walked around beforehand with his head down

and hasn't turned a hair all day," he said. "He possibly could have run a month

earlier, so to see what he's done in the last six weeks and how its come

together, we'll be looking forward to seeing what improvement he makes over the

winter.

"He conserves energy and you can give him a bit of stick at home, because he

comes back in and goes straight to the manger and eats up. He's a

beautiful-moving horse and usually they like better ground to this, so we'll

look forward to seeing him on that. We've got to have an open book with him and

he'll be in everything."

Paul Smith, son of owner Derrick, whose colors were in second courtesy of

Johann Strauss, added, "It's a fabulous day and what dreams are made of -- it's

hard to take it all in. Being by Mastercraftsman, he has a special place in my

heart and he looks like he's going to have a great second career. I'm quite

overwhelmed really."

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