Carpenter on top for Mastercraftsman

Master Carpenter (3c Mastercraftsman-Fringe, by In The Wings) became another black-type scorer for Mastercraftsman when winning the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown on Thursday might in great style,

Ryan Moore partnered the consistent three-year-old to a seven-length victory in the mile contest and trainer Rod Millman believes there could be further improvement to come.

“He may not have stayed when he came here last time (running over 10 furlongs) and a mile is probably his trip,” Millman told TDN. “This was a bit quick after his last run at Newmarket, but it was the easiest race he’s had all season. Being realistic, he’s probably a horse who will win his races but isn’t quite up to the really big ones yet, but he’s improving all the time.”

Master Carpenter, who was bred by Naiff SA and Newtown Stud, boasts some excellent form including when third to the subsequent Irish and English 2,000 Guineas winners Kingman and Night Of Thunder in the G3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April.

Meanwhile, Mastercraftsman’s G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning son Kingston Hill (3c Mastercraftsman-Audacieuse, by Rainbow Quest) galloped around Epsom on Thursday morning ahead of his tilt at the G1 Investec Derby.

Big-race jockey Andrea Atzeni was on board Paul Smith’s colt, working at the Breakfast With The Stars event, and trainer Roger Varian is looking forward to the big day.

“The bare facts point to him running a very good Derby trial in the Guineas and he has come out of the race very well,” said Varian. “We thought about running in the Dante but decided to stick to Plan A, which was using the Guineas as a Derby trial and then coming to Epsom.”