James Doyle enjoys Group 1 breakthrough for Wathnan Racing as Kind Of Blue triumphs in Champions Sprint

Recent Wathnan Racing purchase Kind Of Blue gave James Doyle a first Group 1 winner in the colours of his retaining owners, landing the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes from Swingalong and Flora Of Bermuda.

The 10-1 chance was emulating his close relatives Deacon Blue and The Tin Man for trainer James Fanshawe when holding on by a head from last year's third Swingalong, with 25-1 outsider Flora Of Bermuda a further neck away.

The three-year-old Kind Of Blue was getting one up on his relatives, who were both four-year-olds when they won the Sprint in 2011 and 2016 respectively.

The race was thought to be all about the low numbers with Audience (drawn in stall two) leading the group on the far side early on with last year's winner Art Power (12) leading the rest up the middle, but when they weakened the high numbers came into play with Kind Of Blue (17) looming large at the furlong pole.

Despite a host of dangers, Doyle ground it out on the eventual winner inside the last furlong to hold on in a bunched finish.

James Fanshawe and James Doyle after Sprint success success with Kind Of BlueCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

After a host of near-misses at Group 1 level, it was a welcome change of luck for Qatar-based operation Wathnan Racing, who purchased the son of Blue Point after his second-placed effort in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Fanshawe said: "It was a great thrill and a wonderful result. It's the third relative to win the race. Wathnan bought him only three weeks ago and it's a great team effort, including from Daniel Muscutt, who has ridden him in al his previous races."

Doyle told Racing TV: "There is no greater man than James Fanshawe to prepare a horse for the Champions Sprint and I'm delighted for Wathnan Racing to finally get a Group 1 win on the board."

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