Kingston
Hill, Roger Varian’s high-class juvenile of last season, may well
take his chance in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May without
first having a prep race.
The
unbeaten son of rising star stallion Mastercraftsman ended last term
by completing a blemish-free hattrick in the Group 1 Racing Post
Trophy at Doncaster in October, showing bags of class as he powered
away from Ballydoyle’s very useful Johann Strauss to score by an
impressive four-and-a-half lengths, establishing himself as a leading
candidate for both the first colts’ class of the 2014 season and
the Investec Derby at Epsom in June.
Varian
has not committed his exciting prospect to the 2000 Guineas and
intends keeping his options open as long as possible with the Derby
appearing to be a central target for the Paul Smith-owned colt.
Currently
an 8/1 shot in the racing betting list for
the 2000 Guineas
(with Bet365), and 8/1 second-favourite behind Aidan O’Brien’s
Australia (9/2) for the Derby, Kingston Hill is out of a dam by
Rainbow Quest, suggesting there is every chance he may be even better
over middle-distances than over a bare mile. His half-sister, Ramona
Chase (by High Chaparral), won twice at a mile-and-a-quarter and once
at a mile-and-a-half.
Kingston
Hill didn’t make his racecourse bow until Newbury on September 21
when comfortably accounting for Exchequer in a seven furlong maiden.
He took the immediate step into pattern race company very much in his
stride when beating Oklahoma City by two lengths in the Group 3
Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on October 12, then rounded
off his rapid rise to the top
by justifying racing
live betting odds of 7/2
at Doncaster in the Racing Post Trophy.
Varian’s
star has so far only run on easy ground but his Newmarket-based
handler has few worries about his ability to handler a quick surface.