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| Staff Writer |
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James Fanshawe is aiming for a hat-trick in Saturday's Gr.1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot with Kind Of Blue, a close relative of his previous two winners. The Newmarket-based trainer is keeping a watchful eye on the weather, hoping Ascot receives less rainfall than forecast before the weekend.
The son of Blue Point is preparing for the six-furlong contest, following in the hoofprints of his close relatives Deacon Blue (2011) and The Tin Man (2016). Kind Of Blue has made remarkable progress since his winning debut at Kempton in mid-April, with several near misses in Group company highlighting his campaign.
Most recently, Kind Of Blue finished a head second to this weekend's rival Montassib in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last month. This narrow defeat caught the attention of Wathnan Racing, who subsequently purchased the colt privately from his breeders Michelle Morris and Jan and Peter Hopper.
Speaking at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Fanshawe said: "I'm sure Kind Of Blue will appreciate some cut in the ground at Ascot as his family have in the past, it just depends on how much [rain] they get."
He added: "The other two won it on the easy side of good ground but they were older horses then, whereas Kind Of Blue is a 3YO. I expect Kind Of Blue to handle some cut in the ground but how much depends on what rain they get at Ascot before the weekend. There are many in the field in the same boat."
Kind Of Blue's dam, Blues Sister, is a sibling to Deacon Blues, who triumphed in the race (then a Group Two) in 2011 on good ground. Blues Sister is also a half-sister to The Tin Man, victorious on similar going five years later. These family connections suggest Kind Of Blue may have inherited their aptitude for the Ascot sprint.
Ascot's clerk of the course, Chris Stickels, reported: "The forecast remains unsettled and keeps changing a little bit. We're expecting some rain tonight, rain on Wednesday night into Thursday and again on Friday night into Saturday morning."
With 6-8mm of rain forecast for Wednesday and 20-25mm expected by midday Saturday, the three round-course races may be switched to the inner course. The current going is heavy, soft in places on the round course and soft on the inner round and straight courses.
Stickels added: "If it's still heavy in places on the round course on Wednesday evening, it's highly likely to be so the next morning and we'll take a view tomorrow on the extent of how heavy it is and whether there is any prospect of it improving."
The British Champions Sprint has a rich history of producing top-class winners. Alongside Fanshawe's successes with Deacon Blue and The Tin Man, other notable victors include Muhaarar (2015), who went on to be crowned European Champion Sprinter, and Dream Ahead (2011), a five-time Group One winner.
As Fanshawe prepares Kind Of Blue for this prestigious contest, he'll be hoping the colt can emulate his illustrious relatives and add his name to the roll of honour in this thrilling sprint spectacle.