Kind Of Blue returns Wathnan Racing to the winner’s enclosure at Kempton
The Group 1 winner’s return was more than a routine success: it tested speed and readiness before a return to the Champions Sprint stage at Ascot.
Kind Of Blue won the six-furlong conditions race on synthetic Polytrack by three quarters of a length. James Doyle rode him for trainer James Fanshawe and owner Wathnan Racing.
How was the race decided?
Kind Of Blue faced five rivals and finished ahead of Mitbaahy, with Montassib completing the top three. The value of the win extends beyond the three-quarter-length margin: it restored his racing rhythm during a campaign intended to sharpen him for a higher-level assignment.
Why does the return matter?
Kind Of Blue already holds a Group 1 British Champions Sprint title at Ascot, making Kempton a planned preparation rather than the final objective. The Polytrack victory gives James Fanshawe a practical indication of readiness, but the next test on turf against elite sprinters will be more demanding.
The pedigree behind his speed
The horse is by Blue Point out of Blues Sister. Blue Point won both the King’s Stand Stakes and Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before establishing himself as a sire of top-level speed horses. Blues Sister belongs to the family that produced British Champions Sprint winners The Tin Man and Deacon Blues, giving specialised sprinting ability a clear presence on both sides of the pedigree.
What should we watch next?
The real measure is how the horse moves from a synthetic surface to a Group 1 turf race. His position at the start, ability to sustain his drive in the final furlong and the strength of the Ascot opposition will determine whether this return starts a major campaign or remains a successful preparation.