Roger Varian hopes Hill can hit peak
Kingston Hill is unbeaten in two starts and the Newmarket trainer is hoping the Mastercraftsman colt can step up to the mark. “Kingston Hill has done nothing wrong and has won both his starts. I have been very happy with his condition since he won the Autumn Stakes two weeks ago,” said Varian.
“The trip and ground should be fine and, although this is another step up, I am confident that he will be there or thereabouts.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDoncaster has been a particularly lucky place for Varian. His first winner came at the track in March 2011 after he took over the reins at Kremlin House stables when the late Michael Jarvis retired.
Jarvis sent out the winner of this race in 1980 when Beldale Flutter defeated none other than Shergar. “We thought about it pretty seriously (supplementing), it wasn’t a light decision,” Varian added. “We’ve been extremely pleased with him since he won the Autumn Stakes and it certainly looks like he could take another run. He’s come out of the race well, there’s a chance he could improve and he’s shown that he can handle cut in the ground.
“It’s a very good race but we think he’s got the profile that made us think about it and on reflection we felt we better put him in the race.” Aidan O’Brien has three runners – Buonarroti, Century and Johann Strauss – as he goes for an eighth triumph in the final Group 1 race of the season in Britain.
Century would appear to be his number one hope after being supplemented following a debut success at the Curragh just two weeks ago. “We’re very happy with Century. Obviously he’s had just the one run but ran a nice race and won nicely. He was a bit green, slowly away, but he came through the field and learned plenty,” said the Ballydoyle trainer.
“He was always a definite possible for this if his maiden went well, we always had one eye on it from a while back.” The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Snow Sky was supplemented on the strength of an 11-length romp at Salisbury on heavy ground earlier this month. His jockey James Doyle believes the son of Nayef has the staying attributes needed for the conditions. “He won well at Salisbury, it was desperate ground but he won well so he handles those conditions and seems to have come out of the race very well so he’s definitely one to look forward to,” said Doyle.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Pinzolo was another of the four horses added at the confirmation stage at a cost of £17,500. The Monsun colt battled on bravely to beat Red Galileo a head over a mile at Newbury after winning on his debut at Newmarket. Champion trainer-elect Richard Hannon relies on Chief Barker to give him a first win in the race after deciding not to risk National Stakes scorer Toormore on the expected testing ground.
Johnny Murtagh has made a great success this season of training as well as riding and has both jobs with Altruistic for owner Andrew Tinkler. Murtagh has won this prestigious race twice, riding Dilshaan in 2000 and St Nicholas Abbey in 2009, and believes his representative will not let the team down. “It looks a good renewal and there are lots of unbeaten horses in it, so it’s going to be tough, but I’m happy with Altruistic,” said the County Kildare-based handler.