15 Oct 2022

Kinross breezes to another Group 1 success

Emily Upjohn

The Ralph Beckett-trained Lezoo registered his fourth successive season in some style defeating the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes field by two-and-a-quarter-lengths.

Superstar jockey Frankie Dettori was on board for what looked a simple success. Last year’s winner, Creative Force looked set to put up a strong defence of his title, and was joined by stablemate Naval Crown at the halfway point.

Dettori soon found a gap in the field and once the pair hit the front, the race was put to bed within the final furlong-and-a-half.

This was his second Group 1 in as many weeks after success across the channel. Dettori was full of praise for the filly, commenting: ““The one I wanted to follow was William [Buick, aboard Creative Force] but I saw the distress signals at the one and a half and I knew my fella stayed and wouldn’t stop in front so I kicked nice and early and he ran to the line. I was able to hear the crowd cheering so it was a very good feel factor.”

Frankie Dettori leaps off winner Kinross The QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) Ascot

Breeders Cup next?

If Kinross runs again this season it will be over two furlongs further with Beckett nominating next month’s Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland.

The trainer said: “I’ve always had a hankering for him to do it at this trip, even with a Breeders’ Cup Mile on the horizon. We’ll go there as well with any luck, he’s better off running than galloping. If he’s right, he’ll go.