Krypton Factor needs to rediscover X-factor

Newmarket, England: Krypton Factor won the Golden Shaheen for Bahrain last year, when he came up with a strong run in the closing stages to peg back Singapore’s champion Rocket Man, winner of the race in 2011 and runner-up in 2010. Krypton Factor failed to win again last year, but don’t hold that against him. He was not over-raced either, and he ran decent races in defeat, so it would be foolish to write him off.

Winning the Golden Shaheen back-to-back is anything but easy. Only one horse has managed the feat, namely US ace Caller One in 2001 and 2002. Krypton Factor, with regular partner Kieren Fallon, went on to Singapore after his win last year, but could manage only sixth behind the locally-trained winner Ato in the Krisflyer Sprint (G1) at Kranji racecourse.

A month later Krypton Factor stepped out on the famous Royal Ascot lawn and went for an even tougher task. He was one of 13 brave enough to take on the sensational Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1), run over a straight six-furlong trip. He put in a fine effort to finish fifth, beaten no more than two lengths by the Australian champion. Black Caviar was not at her best on the day, but remember Krypton Factor was giving her three pounds (1.5kg). You could hardly call that a bad run, especially as the Ascot course is so different to Meydan’s Tapeta, where Krypton Factor is at his best.

The son of Kyllachy, who began his racing career in the lower grades in England, enjoyed a long break after his trip to Ascot and, when he returned to the races — in the Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) here at Meydan in February — it was after a 129-day lay-off and he was probably a bit ring rusty on the day. Sent off favourite, he was rather anonymous in the first half of the contest, but came up with a late run to get third behind the Australian Group One winner Mental and Kavanagh (who won next time out).

Krypton Factor next ran in the Mahaab Al Shimaal (G2) on Super Saturday, a key prep to the Golden Shaheen, and finished a four-length second to Reynaldothewizard.

Krypton Factor was trained by Sir Mark Prescott in Newmarket as a two and three-year-old, when he won handicaps at Sandown Park, Beverley and Epsom, and a conditions race back at Sandown Park. He was a useful runner then, but has improved a lot since sold to Fawzi Abdullah Nass for 100,000 guineas (about $170,000) at the Tattersalls Newmarket Sales in October 2010. Krypton Factor earned more than seven times that sum when beating Rocket Man 12 months ago and there should be more to come.

— Geir Stabell is the editor of Newmarket-based Globeform.