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Ralph Beckett ‘happy’ to tackle Breeders’ Cup Mile with Kinross

3 minute read

Kinross will be looking to culminate an excellent campaign by securing his third successive Group One victory in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland.

KINROSS winning the Prix de la Foret at Hippodrome de ParisLongchamp in Paris, France.
KINROSS winning the Prix de la Foret at Hippodrome de ParisLongchamp in Paris, France. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Following successive Group Two victories at Doncaster and York, Ralph Beckett's charge broke his top-level drought in the Prix de la Foret on Arc day at ParisLongchamp – and followed up just two weeks later in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot.

Kinross will now set his sights on the States with Beckett keeping his fingers crossed he can bring his A-game to the table once more.

"He's been training well. We are treading quite a fine line as he has been so busy. I'm happy with him, he is moving well and looks well," said the trainer.

Reflecting on his Ascot success, Beckett added: "I don't think he will better that performance on Champions Day. That is as good as it gets – to drop back to six furlongs and win as he did, it takes a bit of doing. He will have to equal that performance in America if he is to win.

"The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint would have been too sharp for him. He is very adaptable. He has won around Goodwood and York, it comes all alike to him in that sense, so I have no concerns around him handling the track at Keeneland.

"He is very effective on soft ground. I don't think he is capable of winning over six furlongs on fast ground, but he won the City of York Stakes over seven on fast ground. The ground won't matter to him."

Beckett is bidding for his second Breeders' Cup triumph, having previously saddled Muhannak to win the Marathon in 2008, an experience he describes as "surreal".

He said: "We didn't really expect it. The horse was enigmatic to say the least. He wouldn't train in the mornings wherever he was.

"He took a bit of working out, but he was ideally suited to the Polytrack, or synthetic track as it was back then, at Santa Anita. It was a great day.

"The Breeders' Cup Mile is a very special race. It would mean a great deal to win that."


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