Another crack at the Breeders' Cup Mile on the cards for Kinross in 2023

High-class gelding Kinross is to stay in training as a six-year-old in 2023 with the main aim of having another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Mile in which he was a fast-finishing third to Modern Games at Keeneland on Saturday.

Ralph Beckett’s versatile performer was on a run of four straight wins, including two at Group 1 level, when beaten three-quarters of a length and a nose at the weekend, when he had to overcome a wide draw in stall 12.

From his stall position, Frankie Dettori elected to drop in and go the rail route on the gelding and met with traffic before finishing best of all to snatch third just behind the US-trained runner-up Shirl’s Speight.

Even in defeat, Kinross showed his versatility trip-wise, having previously scored over 6f in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot and over 7f in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc day.

Reflecting on the Keeneland near-miss, Beckett said of the Marc Chan-owned Kinross: “He ran a huge race and put in a terrific effort – I was absolutely thrilled with him. It was the draw that beat us really, and the lack of pace in the race didn’t help. He ran very well in the circumstances.”

Kinross, who together with the other European runners was on his way back from Kentucky on Monday, is unlikely to be stepping back on to a plane next month even though he is entered in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.

Beckett added: “He’s entered for Hong Kong but is doubtful to go, and the plan is to keep him in training next year when his main target will be another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita."

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