A leading sprinter for next season, Burke handicapper to follow and future stars in saddle - three things we learned this week

Three key takeaways from this week . . .

Blue could be a sprinting star next year

There was an open feel to the sprint division this campaign, but Champions Day scorer Kind Of Blue has the potential to lead the way in the top six-furlong races next season.

Kind Of Blue became the third horse from his family to land the Champions Sprint at Ascot, following in the footsteps of Deacon Blues and The Tin Man, who were also trained by James Fanshawe.

The three-year-old made his debut only in April and has yet to finish out of the first four. He was arguably unlucky not to win the Sprint Cup at Haydock on his penultimate start, having raced up with the pace, unlike the winner, third and fourth, who came from much further back.

Wathnan Racing’s recent recruit travelled nicely on his way to Champions Sprint success at Ascot on Saturday and handled the soft ground well, proving his versatility with regards to underfoot conditions.

He should have plenty more to offer next season and there is encouragement to take from his illustrious relations. The Tin Man won his three Group 1s at the age of four, five and six, while Deacon Blues flourished at four, winning five of his six races culminating in victory in this contest.
Jack Haynes

Burke performer looks worth following

Ascot’s Champions Day card closed with the Balmoral Handicap, which was won impressively by Carrytheone. The Michael Bell-trained seven-year-old was smuggled into the race under Christophe Soumillon before pulling clear for a decisive success.

By Lope De Vega, Carrytheone was bred to handle the soft ground and had enjoyed a consistent season, achieving a triple-figure Racing Post Rating on his previous eight starts.

Carrytheone: winner of Saturday's Balmoral HandicapCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The Karl Burke-trained Thunder Run was sent off the 7-2 favourite and came into the race having won three of his five starts, with his most recent success coming in the competitive Clipper Handicap at York in August.

Punters fancied Thunder Run to defy a 4lb rise and the booking of Ryan Moore also looked notable – it was just the fourth time he had ridden for Burke this season.

Thunder Run led his near-side group through the early stages before the two packs converged closer to the stands’ rail midway through the race.

Burke’s gelding travelled powerfully into the final two furlongs of the contest, but he proved wayward under pressure and the testing ground seemed to go against him.

He will appreciate returning to a sounder surface and this strong traveller could prove up to Pattern level next year.
Joe Eccles

Apprentices's title shows we're in good hands

The enthralling battle for the apprentice jockeys’ title showed the sport is in safe hands as far as the future is concerned.

It was great that Sean Dylan Bowen and Joe Leavy took their tussle into the final day of the championship term at Catterick on Saturday.

Although Bowen's 45 winners meant he ultimately finished three clear of Leavy, it was still on the line going into the final furlong. The competition would have driven both on to improve even further, while there is generally no shortage of young talent in the weighing room.

It doesn't work out for every jockey who wins the apprentice crown, but Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Oisin Murphy all won it, so it clearly can be a springboard to stardom.

Along with Bowen and Leavy, Kaiya Fraser and Jack Doughty notched more than 30 winners in the championship campaign and have made a good impression. 

As with last year's winner Billy Loughnane, it should be only a matter of time before they start competing regularly in major races.
Liam Headd

Read more . . .

The lesson of 40-1 winner Anmaat is that a horse can always be forgiven for a single bad performance 

'This family has done us tremendously well' - Kind Of Blue gives James Fanshawe third Champions Sprint 

'I was starting to panic a small bit' - Sean Dylan Bowen holds on to win apprentices' title after long battle with Joe Leavy 

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