Kevin Ryan’s Washington Heights could become a stakes-level regular after his straightforward success in the Bro Park Sprint Championship in Sweden.
The three-year-old, who is owned by Hambleton Racing, has been running with great credit this term since finishing second to subsequent dual Group One winner Shaquille in a May handicap.
He then crossed paths several times with Stuart Williams’ winning machine Quinault when placing in a string of good quality handicaps, inspiring connections to up him in grade in Sweden for a Listed event over six furlongs.
Under Hollie Doyle he was an easy five-length winner, collecting over £30,000 for his owners during the venture.
Having cut his teeth at the grade, he could become another smart performer for the syndicate, who were also represented at the meeting by the evergreen campaigner that is Outbox.
“Washington Heights has been facing some really tough tasks this year, he bumped into Shaquille in a handicap earlier in the season,” said Simon Turner of Hambleton Racing.
“He’s always been competitive in the those really tough handicaps and that made us think he’d be well capable of being effective at stakes level.
“The race in Sweden we thought would be an ideal place to start and Hollie was delighted to have won it so easily. I think we’ve got a very nice stakes horse for those Listed and Group Three sprints going forward.
“It’s amazing how well some of those races have worked out, it’s clearly been a very strong year for that division.”
Outbox had finished second in the past two renewals of the Stockholm Cup International, a Group Three worth over £70,000 to the winner of Sweden’s premier race.
Sadly the Archie Watson-trained bay was destined to fill the same spot again under Doyle this time around, but Turner was still incredibly proud of the effort and the continued success of a great servant to the ownership group.
“We were delighted with Outbox, he’s just been and still is an absolute legend,” he said.
“It was a shame to see him chinned on the line, but equally to finish second in their biggest race of the year three years running is a fantastic achievement.
“He’s an eight-year-old but he doesn’t know it, he’s still a live wire and he keeps bringing his form to the table. He’s been a brilliant horse for us.”
