The Group 1 Sprint Cup is the highlight of the Flat season at Haydock Park,
and the 2012 renewal, which takes place on Saturday, promises to be the most
cosmopolitan ever with representatives from Australia, France and Ireland as
well as a strong British-trained presence among the 15-strong field.
Australian challenger Ortensia heads the market at 5-2 with race sponsor
Betfred. The seven-year-old daughter of Testa Rossa has won twice in Britain
already this season, taking the Group 2 King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood
and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month, both run over five
furlongs.
The Paul Messara-trained mare, partnered again on Saturday by William Buick,
was also successful in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over five furlongs at Meydan
in Dubai during the spring, and is also a multiple Group 1 winner in her
homeland.
The two challengers from Ireland for the six-furlong Sprint Cup are the David
Marnane-trained Dandy Boy, successful in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot
in June, and Gordon Lord Byron, who hails from the County Tipperary yard of Tom
Hogan.
Gordon Lord Byron made his second start in England a winning one when a
comfortable 2 3/4-length winner of the listed City of York Stakes going seven
furlongs at York on August 25. The four-year-old son of Byron had previously
looked a touch unlucky when caught in the last 50 yards by Fire Lily in the
Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh on August 12.
“Gordon Lord Byron is in very good form and he has come out of his run at
York well,” said Hogan, who trains at Fatheen in Co. Tipperary. “I haven’t done
much with him since but he did a good piece of work (on Wednesday) and is ready
to go.
“I wasn’t surprised by how well he did it at York and the quicker ground made
a difference. He had been running on soft ground over here and he had been
struggling with it but he ran a good race behind Fire Lily when he was in front
a bit too long.
“He is maturing all the time and he has got stronger throughout the year. I
would say there is still some more improvement to come and he will probably be a
better horse next year.
“Until York, he had never won over further than six furlongs and a stiff six
is probably his best trip. He is a horse with a good cruising speed and he can
quicken off it.
“We would be delighted if he can pick up some prize money.”
Wizz Kid is the challenger from France. The Whipper four-year-old filly is a
dual Group 2 winner over five furlongs at Chantilly and was runner-up in the
Group 2 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot last season. In her most recent outing,
she was second to the top-class Moonlight Cloud in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de
Gheest over an extended six furlongs at Deauville on August 5.
Heading the British-trained challenge is the Roger Charlton-trained Bated
Breath, who finished the nose runner-up in last year’s renewal of this race
behind Dream Ahead. The Dansili five-year-old broke the course record for five
furlongs at Haydock Park when taking the Group 1 Temple Stakes on May 26, and
will be joined on Saturday by stablemate Genki, who was beaten under two lengths
when fourth in the 2011 edition of this race.
Multiple Group 2 winner Strong Suit represents reigning champion trainer
Richard Hannon in the Sprint Cup. The four-year-old son of Rahy showed he was on
the way back to his best when a neck runner-up in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes
going seven furlongs at Newbury on August 18.
Other leading contenders in the Sprint Cup include the James Fanshawe-trained
Society Rock, successful in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in
2011; Hitchens, a dual Group 3 winner for sprint specialist David Barron; and
Godolphin’s Soul, who ran his best race this year when fourth behind Black
Caviar in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Scotland will be presented by the Jim Goldie-trained Hawkeyethenoo, who
defied the welter burden of 135 pounds when taking the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious
Goodwood on August 4.
Completing the line-up are Es Que Love, Elusivity, Confessional and Majestic
Myles.
David Armstrong and Cheveley Park Stud’s Group 1 July Cup winner Mayson was
ruled out of the race due to a dirty scope. Trainer Richard Fahey revealed the
news on the Invincible Spirit four-year-old, who has not been seen since
capturing the July 14 Newmarket feature.
“He just didn’t scope right, so we can’t take a chance,” he told PA Sport.
“It’s disappointing for everyone, but I suppose that’s how it goes sometimes. He
should recover quick enough. There’s the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye (at Longchamp
on October 7) and he’s in (the Group 2 British Champions Sprint) at Ascot (on
October 20) as well, so we’ll see.”
The Sprint Cup is run on the third and final day of the Sprint Cup Festival,
which kicked off Thursday. The going at Haydock Park was listed as good to firm,
good in places as of Thursday.
Kirkland Tellwright, Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park, reported, “It’s a
dry forecast today (Thursday) but there will be a bit of drizzle tomorrow
(Friday) morning, maybe one or two millimeters, other than it’s meant to be dry.
“The ground is steadily drying and it might reach good to firm by (Friday).”
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