Tag Archive for: Sprint Cup

Haydock not the track for Lazzat after beaten Sprint Cup effort

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Jerome Reynier felt the six-furlong course at Haydock could have proved too sharp for Lazzat after he was a beaten favourite in the Betfair Sprint Cup.

The four-year-old blazed a trail in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on his penultimate start, setting a new course record as he fended off the Japanese raider Satono Reve at the Royal meeting.

He subsequently met with defeat in the six-and-a-half-furlong Prix Maurice de Gheest and while punters still had plenty of confidence in his chance on Merseyside, sending him off the evens market leader, Lazzat fell short at the finish, coming home a two-and-a-half-length fifth behind Big Mojo.

Reynier and owners Wathnan Racing now face the choice of returning to Ascot on Qipco Champions Day for the Sprint, or moving back up to seven furlongs for the Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend, with the trainer sure a stiffer test will suit.

He said: “It’s a six-furlong proper sprint and he had horses all around him and it was maybe a bit too sharp for him, so maybe next month there will be a bit more cut in the ground over six furlongs in the Champions Sprint or in the Foret over seven furlongs.

“We have to chat about the next race with connections, but it was my fear that he likes to be on top of the game, in front and leading and today at the three-furlong marker he (jockey James Doyle) was already asking him to keep up and he stayed on well.

“He was happy with the way he fought and he wasn’t beaten far. That’s just a bit too sharp for him I think today.”

Following a second successive defeat, Reynier also raised the possibility his record-setting run at Ascot had left more of a mark than anticipated.

He added: “The six furlongs at Ascot is much stiffer and that is probably more his game. I think the Maurice de Gheest was under his best and once again it’s a little bit lower than I would have expected.

“When you beat course records, like at Ascot, it’s not an easy task and obviously some horses take a long while to recover, so we will have to see if he’s all good.”

Wathnan Racing were well represented in the race and last year’s runner up Kind Of Blue continued his recent renaissance by taking second place again, a nose ahead of Flora Of Bermuda for the same owner.

Having started the year by entirely fluffing the start in France before a disappointing Newcastle run, his trainer James Fanshawe has taken heart from his third place in the Phoenix Sprint last time and this run ahead of the defence of his British Champions Sprint title next month.

The trainer said: “Really pleased, delighted with him. After a very sticky start, he’s coming back to himself.

“He ran well in Ireland and he’s run a blinder today and we’re looking forward to Ascot.”

The Andrew Balding-trained Flora Of Bermuda could also be on her way to Ascot, with the trainer’s wife Anna Lisa saying: “I am absolutely delighted. She is such a superstar.

“We just hope one day she’ll get one of these but to be third in another Group One is magnificent.

“We are so thrilled to be training for Wathnan and I am thrilled for Mick Appleby too.

“I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t look at Ascot now. She was third in it last year I think and today was the third time she has come third in a Group One race.”

Big targets on the horizon for Sprint Cup hero Mojo

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Qipco Champions Day at Ascot and a second trip to the Breeders’ Cup are among the options under consideration for Big Mojo after he provided trainer Mick Appleby with a first domestic Group One success in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The Rutland handler has saddled only one previous top-level winner, with the similarly named Big Evs claiming a thrilling victory at the Breeders’ Cup two years ago.

Big Mojo emulated his former stablemate by winning the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last summer before performing creditably at the Breeders’ Cup himself, while this season he had won Ascot’s Pavilion Stakes and come within a neck of a Group One triumph in the July Cup at Newmarket.

Having subsequently finished only fifth in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, the Mohaather colt was a 16-1 shot for his latest big-race test on Merseyside – but with stands’ rail to help, he roared back to form under a power-packed drive from William Buick to record a one-and-a-quarter-length victory.

Appleby said: “That was absolutely great, he did it so well. Everything went to plan and it took William half the track to pull him up!

“I think it does mean more to win a Group One here (in Britain). He’s a very good horse, obviously we were disappointed at Goodwood but we put it down to the softer ground.

“There were a lot of question marks next to his name, but he was in great form at home and we were coming here quite optimistic, to be fair

“We always had faith in the horse and he’s definitely up there with Big Evs.”

Big Mojo was a decisive winner at Haydock
Big Mojo was a decisive winner at Haydock (Martin Rickett/PA)

Both Big Evs and Big Mojo are part-owned by Paul Teasdale, who is clearly keen on a return to California in early November.

He said: “We knew he would give us a big run. I said to William going out ‘we just need another July Cup performance’ as we were only inches away from winning that day. We knew he was capable and we knew this was a Group One horse and it was just a case of getting it right on the day.

“He came fourth at the Breeders’ Cup last year and we wouldn’t be scared to go back. We think he’s equally good at five or six furlongs and he handled Del Mar really well last year.

“We’ve got an entry at Ascot on Champions Day and we might even consider the Prix de l’Abbaye. Let’s enjoy today and we’ll think about it.”

Buick was riding for the first time and said: “It was a brilliant spare ride to get, it all came together and we got the job done.

“It’s beautiful ground and I think middle to stands’ side is where you want to be. The race panned out well, but he put in a big performance I thought. He was very smooth and really I had no moment of worry. Once I gave him the get-go, he just got on with it and saw it out well.

“I’m delighted for Mick and the owners. They’re great people and these are the days we all do it for.”

Big Mojo soars to Sprint Cup success

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Big Mojo sprang a minor surprise as he ran out a 16-1 winner of the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Trained by Mick Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Big Mojo had finished a narrow second in the July Cup on his penultimate run but he unleashed a telling effort in the final furlong to get his head in front on Merseyside.

Last year’s second Kind Of Blue filled the runner-up spot again, with fellow Wathnan Racing-owned runner Flora Of Bermuda third while favourite Lazzat finished unplaced in the same silks.

Rage Of Bamby set the early pace up the nearside rail, with all the first three home racing up the same strip, while Lazzat was more towards the middle of the track.

The stands’ side clearly held the advantage coming into the final furlong and the strong finish of Big Mojo saw him pull a length and a quarter clear at the line, with just a nose separating the Wathnan pair.

Big Mojo was so full of running, it took Buick a good distance to pull up after the line and he told ITV Racing: “The hardest job was getting him to the start and pulling him up!

“He’s just a real sprinter – he’s got two speeds. He was lovely and smooth throughout the race and I really didn’t have a moment of worry.

“We got a nice tow into the race until about halfway and then off he went and made his own way home.”

Harry Eustace relishing Sprint Cup test for Time For Sandals

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Harry Eustace is keen to find out where his Royal Ascot winner Time For Sandals ranks against the best six-furlong sprinters in Europe when she contests the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Winner of the Commonwealth Cup against her own age, she then dropped down to five furlongs at Goodwood against her elders, finishing a three-quarter-length third.

Back up to her favoured trip this weekend, she is second favourite in most lists behind Lazzat.

“It’s a positive for us they didn’t get much rain and while it’s a tough race, we’re looking forward to seeing where we fit in,” said Eustace.

“It was nice to see her back up at Goodwood against the older ones over what isn’t really her trip having done it at Ascot against her own age.

“We’ll find out now where we really fit in against the best over six furlongs.

“The draw (two) is fair, I’d rather be drawn closer to a few more fancied runners but we can’t do much about that, so we’ll see how we go. We are at least next to Sayidah Dariyan and we might have to look after ourselves.”

Lazzat was also a winner at Royal Ascot and went close to following up in the Prix Maurice de Gheest for trainer Jerome Reynier.

“Lazzat has been staying in Deauville for the last month. We are very happy with him and he did his last piece of work on the straight course on the racecourse last Saturday. That was very nice – he moved well and behaved well. We were very happy, and he looks amazing physically. We can only hope for the best,” said Reynier.

Lazzat impressed at Royal Ascot
Lazzat impressed at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“He was racing after 50 days (since Ascot) and we brought him to Deauville five days prior to the race and I think he became a bit fresh between his travelling and the race. When he won the Maurice de Gheest last year, we came the day before.

“On Saturday, he is running after 27 days off and will be travelling the day before. I think he has done enough work to make sure he won’t be too fresh and keen.

“He is a horse that’s happy in any kind of routine. He’s travelled the world and been in quarantine, so is very versatile and can adapt himself to any kind of conditions, so he’s very easy to deal with. He gets on well with his morning rider, Franck Blondel, a former champion jockey. As long as he has Franck with him, he is happy to visit the world.”

Richard Hughes’ No Half Measures is bidding for a Group One double following her surprise win in the July Cup.

“It was a brilliant day in the July Cup. We were hoping she would run well, but on that (quick) ground we didn’t think it would be possible to win,” said Hughes.

“I thought she would need it softer to be able to overcome that level of horse, but she went and proved she can do it on any ground.

“Ryan (Moore) kept saying she is really good over five furlongs but I thought she might be able to excel if she could travel over a bit further, and she hasn’t let me down.

“She is improving, and although she was beaten on her first start over six furlongs, she hasn’t been beaten over it since.”

Hughes also runs Sayidah Dariyan.

The William Haggas-trained Sky Majesty was supplemented for the race after winning in Ireland the last twice, having landed Group races at Ayr and Chantilly on contrasting conditions last term.

Sky Majesty (right) winning at Ayr last season
Sky Majesty (right) winning at Ayr last season (Steve Welsh/PA)

Sean Graham, racing manager to her co-owner Tony Bloom, said: “William has been very happy with her since Naas and her best run last year was at Chantilly when she won on heavy ground.

“She just hadn’t come to herself when she ran first time out at Chelmsford and although she improved significantly for that run, she probably still wasn’t where William would have wanted her at Royal Ascot (in the Commonwealth Cup).

“The ground was very quick that day and maybe she just didn’t let herself down on it either and she has won twice at Naas since and looks a million dollars, so we’re looking forward to taking our chance.”

No decision yet on promising Almeraq’s weekend target

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Connections of Almeraq have yet to decide whether to throw the promising colt in “at the deep end” in Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old has won two of his four starts to date and was last seen making a mockery of an opening mark of 90 on his handicap debut at Ayr in July.

The son of Dark Angel has the option of returning to Scotland for the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup later this month but owners Shadwell are favouring a step up in class this weekend, with the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York on Sunday a possible alternative to Saturday’s Group One feature on Merseyside.

“No decision has been made as yet,” Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said on Tuesday.

“I spoke to William this morning and it’s sort of depending a bit on the weather and how much rain they get (at Haydock). We’d like a good bit of rain for him as we know he likes soft ground and also we’re just debating whether we throw him in at the deep end or take a more gentle approach.

“We’ve been very patient with him, William has been very patient. He hasn’t had much racing and is a very unexposed horse, so from that point of view it might be asking too much to lob him straight in against the best and that’s what we’re discussing.”

If Almeraq does not head for Haydock, he could instead step up to the highest level on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot next month.

Gold added: “He’s in a Listed race at York on Sunday, so whether we go down that route first to try and make him a Stakes winner and then if he was to win that and win nicely we could look at the British Champions Sprint.

“He’s had so little racing this horse and has missed so much of the year with the firm ground, it will just be nice to get him back on the track and see where we’re going with him.

“There certainly is rain around, but you never quite know where it’s going to hit, so we’re going to work the horse in the morning, have another chat then and try and make the right decision.

“He’s also in at Ayr, but he’s not a Stakes winner as yet and we every much hope that he is Stakes class, so it would be nice to make him a Stakes winner.”

Lazzat leads 22 contenders for Sprint Cup gold

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French star Lazzat, July Cup hero No Half Measures and the supplemented Sky Majesty are among 22 potential runners in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.

Jerome Reynier’s Lazzat got the better of Japanese ace Satono Reve when striking Royal Ascot gold in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his penultimate start.

He suffered a surprise defeat when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time, but is a 2-1 favourite with Paddy Power to get back on the winning trail in this weekend’s Group One feature on Merseyside.

No Half Measures reduced Richard Hughes to tears when providing the former leading jockey with his first top-level success as a trainer in Newmarket’s July Cup and she will get the opportunity to prove that shock 66-1 victory was no fluke.

Hughes could also saddle Sayidah Dariyan, who was beaten four lengths into seventh place in the Nunthorpe at York a fortnight ago.

Hughes said: “She (No Half Measures) looks really good at the moment and we are really pleased with her. She has had a nice gap, but we always thought this was going to be her Derby.

“When we got started with her in the spring, we said the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park was her race as it is normally slow ground but either way now it doesn’t matter what the ground is really.

“If it is slower ground up there, she will step forward again.”

Of Sayidah Dariyan, the trainer added: “She missed the kick in the Nunthorpe trying her over five furlongs. We were hoping she would be quick enough, but when you miss the kick like that in a sprint you have no chance, however she ran on strongly to the line. I was impressed with her.

“Her only dent is the Nunthorpe, but she has plenty of valid excuses for that effort.

“No Half Measures has been there and done it, but I have high regard for both fillies and I dare not say which is better as they are two good fillies that are going the right way.

“If it is slow ground at Haydock it would hamper her performance a little bit, whereas we know it is fine for No Half Measures, but she is a very good filly.”

William Haggas has supplemented fast-improving filly Sky Majesty to join similarly progressive stablemate Almeraq at a cost of £20,000.

Sky Majesty is one of two supplementary entries along with Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby.

Other leading contenders include Harry Eustace’s Commonwealth Cup heroine Time For Sandals and the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue, who won last season’s Qipco British Champions Sprint and bounced back from an underwhelming start to his campaign when third in the Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien has left in Whistlejacket, who has not been seen since finishing down the field in the July Cup, but he appears far from certain to make the trip to Haydock.

“Whistlejacket is in at Haydock but he could miss that and wait for the Flying Five at the Curragh the following Saturday,” O’Brien said on Monday.

“He was a very quick two-year-old so we might get him back for that. He could be on his way back.

“He’s quick, it’s just taken a while to get him back, the last day was a bit of a mess as well but he could be back for that.”