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

Kind Of Blue kept it in the family when emulating his close relatives Deacon Blue and The Tin Man to provide James Fanshawe with his third success in the Qipco British Champions Sprint.

The progressive three-year-old held off the challenges of Swingalong and Flora Of Bermuda in a bunched finish to score for the first time at Group level in the colours of owners Wathnan Racing, who purchased Kind Of Blue privately following his narrow defeat in Haydock's Sprint Cup.

"All trainers become attached to the families that do them well and this is one that has done us tremendously well," said Fanshawe. "It's the third close relation that has won this race for us, all from the same family and all bred by the Hoppers, the Grundys and the Morrises.

"He was in front for a long time in the final furlong but he was tough when he needed to be. He's an improving colt and it was a great team effort to get him here. He deserves it."

After making his debut in April, Kind Of Blue has made giant strides this season. He won his first two starts before being thrown in at the deep end in the Commonwealth Cup, finishing fourth.

The son of Blue Point was then third in the Hackwood Stakes before being beaten by a head in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes and in the Sprint Cup last month, when he was just denied by the reopposing Montassib.

"He had a couple of niggles as a two-year-old but up Warren Hill in the spring he was looking pretty special early on," said Fanshawe. "We entered him in the Commonwealth before he'd even had a run and then he was just done on the line in the Sprint Cup but he's got the Group 1 under his belt now. Wathnan Racing bought him three weeks ago and he's an exciting horse for them going forwards."

The Qatar-based Wathnan are one of the sport's rising superpowers and they did not have to wait long for a return on their investment. However, they have had to be patient at the highest level and this was their first Group 1 success of the season and James Doyle's first for the operation.

"We've had some near-misses through the season, so to get one of these proper Group 1 winners is very important," said Doyle. "He was unraced before the start of this season but has made giant strides and run some cracking races in defeat. He's improved with every race and there's no greater man than James Fanshawe to prepare a Champions Sprint winner here – he knows what he needs."

Fanshawe and Doyle were also quick to highlight the contribution of jockey Daniel Muscutt, who partnered Kind Of Blue in each of his six starts before his purchase by Wathnan. "A special thank you to Daniel Muscutt, who has been a massively important part of this horse's life," added the jockey. "He talked me through how best to ride the horse and I can't speak highly enough of the chap."

Read all our Champions Day reports:

'He's just an unbelievably classy horse' - Kyprios makes it seven from seven this season with comfortable Long Distance Cup win 

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

'Maybe next year we can think about the Arc' - Kalpana continues her progression with Group 1 win 

'He's shown he's a true champion' - Charyn confirms his class after seeing off Facteur Cheval in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 

'I put my binoculars down halfway up the straight and thought we had no chance' - Anmaat flies home to land 40-1 Champion Stakes shock 

'He's been knocking on the door all year' - cards finally fall right for Carrytheone as Soumillon gains more glory in Balmoral 

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