3 minute read

Kinross took a second Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday for trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan.

It was another Group victory for the seven-year-old, who has landed top-class successes in the Prix de la Foret and British Champions Sprint in previous campaigns. He had a difficult start to the 2024 season, beaten in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes before struggling to feature in the July Cup behind Mill Stream. A return to his favoured Goodwood seven furlongs beckoned, but the Group 3 Lennox Stakes did not unfold to Kinross' liking and the veteran campaigner could only manage third behind runaway winner Audience.

Having missed his intended target at York, Ralph Beckett redirected his stable star to Doncaster, where Kinross was able to get back to winning ways. Settled towards the rear by jockey Rossa Ryan, the gelding made easy headway with two furlongs to run and pulled clear in the final stages, defeating favourite Lead Artist by two lengths, with Shouldvebeenaring a further two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.

In an interview with ITV Racing, winning jockey Rossa Ryan said: "I've made it known that we got the tactics wrong at Goodwood. His last two furlongs at Goodwood were something incredible, the fractions he set. 

"Today, everything was wrong - the only thing he had going for him was the ground. I'll be honest with you, I got there way earlier than Ralph (Beckett) wanted me to be, but he was just going so well, I wanted him to enjoy it so let him go and do it.

"I was fairly confident when I sat down in the saddle that no one was going to pass me. I couldn't see past his form, he was the best horse in the race and I wanted to ride him like that. They got racing a long way from home because they didn't go hard early, and all the hard work was done before I gave him a kick in the belly.

"It's just great that he's back on track."