Kind Of Blue is on course to make it third time lucky in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park this Saturday. James Fanshawe's five-year-old has been runner-up in the Group One feature at the Merseyside track for the past two seasons.
The Wathnan Racing-owned son of Blue Point was beaten a head by Montassib at Haydock in 2024 and was again second 12 months ago, going down by a length-and-a-quarter to Mick Appleby's Big Mojo, who looks set to line up again on Saturday.
Form since Champions Sprint win
Kind Of Blue has not won since taking the Group One British Champions Sprint in October 2024, when he made his debut in the old gold and peacock blue of owners Wathnan Racing. He was 11th in that same Ascot contest after his run at Haydock 12 months ago and has run twice this season – finishing second to Elmonjed in the Group Two Minster Stakes at York in May, then coming home 11th behind another of his likely rivals on Saturday, the Willie Haggas-trained Almeraq, in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Connections are hopeful he can put those runs behind him and finally land the Group One feature at Haydock, for which he is a best-priced 11-2 second favourite with Ladbrokes and Coral.
Connections optimistic
Richard Brown, racing advisor for owner Wathan, said: “He’s been placed in the race twice and he was just a little unlucky in the race last year with the draw being slightly against him, but he still ran a big race. He’s been knocking on the door and goes well at Haydock. He’s not ground dependent and we’re looking forward to seeing him run again.”
“I don’t think Kind Of Blue actually needs soft ground, and also has very good form on better ground. What he can do is go on any ground really, and I think that helps him as some horses don’t really handle soft ground. He’s been a bit of an unlucky horse since he won his Group One and a few things haven’t gone right, but that’s what happens in sprints and hopefully he gets a clear draft into the race on Saturday.”
“This is his final year of racing, and he will be off to stud at the end of the season, although plans have not been made as to where he will stand yet.”
Other Wathnan contenders
Kind Of Blue is one of three Wathnan-owned hopefuls who were among the 13 entries at the five-day declaration stage. Ed Bethell's Paborus and the William Haggas-trained Division are the other possible runners, with Paborus a 16-1 chance with Ladbrokes and Coral and Division a 12-1 chance with William Hill.
Paborus was eighth in the Group One City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs at the Ebor meeting on the Knavesmire last month. He had previously won the Group Three Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs at Newcastle when he made his return to action following a year off the track in June.
Brown added: “I thought Pabarous ran well at York last time, and James thought after that run that going back to six furlongs would suit him. He won’t mind the ground and is an interesting contender. It’s quite quick back from York, but he hasn’t had much racing and is relatively unexposed.”
“Ed called me up two days after York and said he had bounced out of the race and James (Doyle) thinks six furlongs with a bit of ease in the ground would be right up his alley.”
“It is a quick turnaround, but it’s hard to leave races behind when you finally get your ground and we all saw what Eve (Johnson Houghton) was able to do with Zavateri winning the Celebration Mile last weekend, so it can absolutely be done. As long as Ed is happy with the horse we’ll let him take his chance.”
Division was runner-up to Samangan in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at the start of last month, but despite being a previous course and distance winner at Haydock, he may not line up this weekend due to the ground, which is currently soft. Brown said: “He needs quick ground and no slow in it at all as he’s a good-moving horse with a low action.”
“He’s in the Garrowby Stakes at York (on Sunday) as well, but they might also get a lot of rain, so it might just be a case of keeping him on the boil in case Champions Day came up as better ground. It may be that his time of year has gone, which would be a real shame.”
Market leaders and card details
Almeraq is the 10-3 favourite with Ladbrokes and Coral, while last year’s winner Big Mojo is a general 8-1 chance with the Donnacha O’Brien-trained July Cup hero Comanche Brave the same price with William Hill and bet365.
The Sprint Cup is the feature on the final day of Haydock's three-day September meeting. Saturday's eight-race card also features the Betfair Exchange Old Predict Old Borough Cup Handicap (3.05pm). Gates open at 11.25am with the first race, the Group Three Betfair Predicts Superior Mile, due off at 1.25pm and the finale, the Betfair.Betfair Handicap, scheduled for 5.25pm. For more information and to buy tickets for the racing at Haydock – with prices from £30 in the Grandstand and Paddock on Saturday if bought in advance (from £34 gate price) – go online at the Jockey Club website.
Final declarations for the Betfair Sprint Cup will be revealed shortly after 10am on Thursday.
