Sir Mark Prescott is never one to follow the herd and yet another example of this came at Sandown last Thursday with Kinetica’s two-and-a-half length victory in the Listed Star Stakes.
The two-year-old filly made all in splendid isolation up the far rail as her six opponents tacked over to the stands’ rail rounding the turn, as is so often the case in softer conditions at the Esher course.
If it was the brave man’s route, it was also the shortest route, but it is quite something to ask a relatively unseasoned juvenile to race without company. Kinetica is now two wins from three starts and she has something to aim for: her trainer last won the Star Stakes with Cheveley Park Stud’s Confidential Lady – whose first foal Code Cracker was third at Folkestone on debut for the stable on the same day as Kinetica’s victory. Confidential Lady, of course, went on to finish second in the 1,000 Guineas and won the Prix de Diane.
Such a tactical triumph was particularly appropriate for Kinetica as she herself is the product of a piece of original thinking. There wouldn’t be too many British-based owner/breeders using the Kentucky-based Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm stallion Stormy Atlantic, but Kirsten Rausing did, and she now has a highly promising stakes winner as a result.