INTERNATIONAL
FIELD OF 15 FOR BETFRED SPRINT CUP
- HOGAN
HOPING IRISH RAIDER GORDON LORD BYRON CAN MAKE THE FRAME
The Group One Betfred
Sprint Cup is the highlight of the Flat season at Haydock Park and the 2012
renewal which takes place at 3.25pm this Saturday, September 18, 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 has
won twice in Britain already this season, taking the Group Two King George
Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Group One 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 One Al
Quoz Sprint over five furlongs at Meydan, Dubai, in March and is also a Group
One winner in her homeland.
The two challengers from
Ireland for the six-furlong contest are the David Marnane-trained Dandy Boy (16/1),
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, a
25/1 chance with Betfred, made his second start in England a winning one when a
comfortable two and three quarter length winner of the Listed Betfred City Of
York Stakes over seven furlongs at York on August 25. The four-year-old had
previously looked a touch unlucky when caught in the last 50 yards by Fire Lily
in the Group Three Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh on August 12.
Hogan, who trains at
Fatheen in Co Tipperary, said today: "Gordon Lord Byron is in very good
form and he has come out of his run at York well. I haven't done much with him
since but he did a good piece of work yesterday 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 four-year-old filly is a dual Group Two winner over five furlongs
at Chantilly and was runner-up in the Group Two QIPCO British Champions Sprint
Stakes at Ascot last season. On her most recent outing, she was second to the
top-class Moonlight Cloud in the Group One 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 behind Dream Ahead and
broke the course record for five furlongs at Haydock Park when taking the Group
Two betfred.com Temple Stakes on May 26. The five-year-old is the 3/1 second
favourite with Betfred. Charlton is also represented by Genki (40/1),
who was beaten under two lengths when fourth in the 2011 race.
Strong Suit represents reigning
champion trainer Richard Hannon and is 11/2 third favourite with Betfred. A
dual Group Two winner last season, the four-year-old showed he was on the way
back to his best when runner-up in the seven-furlong Group Two Betfred
Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on August 18.
Other leading contenders
include the James Fanshawe-trained Society Rock (10/1), successful in
the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2011, Hitchens (12/1),
a dual Group Three winner for sprint specialist David Barron and Godolphin's Soul
(16/1), who ran his best race this year when fourth behindBlack Caviar in
the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Scotland will be
presented by the Jim Goldie-trained Hawkeyethenoo (16/1), who defied the
welter burden of 9st 9lb when taking the Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood on
August 4.
Completing the line-up
are Es Que Love, Elusivity, Confessional and Majestic Myles.
The Betfred Sprint Cup
is run on the third and final day of the Betfred Sprint Cup Festival, which
kicks off today, Thursday, September 6. The action on Saturday also features
the Listed Betfred "Still Treble The Odds On Lucky 15s" Stakes (1.45pm,
six runners) run over a mile for two-year-olds, the Listed Celebrating 45 Years
Of Betfred Superior Mile (2.50pm, eight runners) for three-year-olds and
upwards and the ultra-competitive Betfred Mobile Lotto Old Borough Cup (4.00pm,
14 runners) over a mile and three quarters.
Betfred Sprint Cup,
Betfred bet: 5/2 Ortensia; 3/1 Bated Breath; 11/2 Strong Suit; 10/1 Society
Rock; 12/1 Hitchens; 14/1 Wizz Kid; 16/1 Dandy Boy, Hawkeyethenoo, Soul; 25/1
Gordon Lord Byron; 33/1 Es Que Love; 40/1 Elusivity, Genki; 50/1 Confessional,
Majestic Myles
GOING
The going at Haydock
Park is currently Good to Firm, Good in places.
Kirkland Tellwright,
Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park, reported: "Today we are Good to Firm,
Good in places. It's a dry forecast today but there will be a bit of drizzle
tomorrow morning, maybe one or two millimetres, other than it's meant to be
dry.
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