Hill tops in Racing Post Trophy The supplemented Kingston Hill ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. Roger Varian was so happy with the progress that his juvenile had made since winning the Autumn Stakes that he persuaded connections to stump up the £17,500 required to enter his colt in the season's final Group One contest. The son of Mastercraftsman repaid that faith in spades as he ran out a convincing four and a half length winner under Andrea Atzeni to earn quotes for next season's Classics. Buonarotti took the field along at a steadily increasing gallop but stablemate Century, who had been easy to back, was one of the first under pressure while Aidan O'Brien's other runner, Johann Strauss, attempted to improve from the rear. The eventual winner, however, was always travelling best of all just in behind the pace and he quickened smartly to the head of affairs when given his office by Atzeni to put the race to bed in a matter of strides. Italian-born Atzeni, a rising star of the weighing room, said: "He's a dream horse to ride really, he settles and is so laid-back. He's a top-class horse and he's definitely the best I've been on so far." Varian, who is finishing the season strongly having seen his stable hampered by a virus, said: "We were looking forward to what improvement there was from him and he's the first colt to win to win a Group One for us. It's been fillies before. "He's always looked good and been a good mover. If you look at him, he's a great model. We have so many horses who can do special things at home but disappoint on the track. He looked good at home, but I tend to sit on the fence and be pessimistic. "Until they do it on the track I won't hype a horse up. We thought he might make his debut earlier, but the horses weren't right in August. What is encouraging is what he's done in six weeks and he has the shape to be better next year. "We'll have to see how he winters and what he's like in the spring. People have said is he a 10-furlong, mile-and-a-half horse, but he has the pace for a mile and travels so well. "He has good acceleration and will be in everything. We'll have a good eye on the Guineas. Whether he runs before or goes straight there or bypasses the Guineas we'll have to wait and see." Aidan O'Brien said of the runner-up: "We were delighted with Johann Strauss. Century (last) couldn't walk in the ground and Buonarroti (fifth) ran well for a long way." Third home was Altruistic and his trainer/jockey Johnny Murtagh said: "He finished well and has been going so well at home. We knew he'd run a good race. "We're just disappointed the ground ended up so soft, he's a horse that will appreciate better ground. He'll get a mile and a half next year no problem. He's a horse to look forward to."
