WIZZ
KID IN BETFRED SPRINT CUP PICTURE
A total of 18 contenders
go forward for the £225,000 Group One Betfred Sprint Cup (3.25pm), run at
Haydock Park over six furlongs on Saturday, September 8, after today's five-day
confirmation stage.
The entries are headed
by multiple Group One winner Ortensia, who came from near last to win
the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs at York on August
24. She is the 11/4 favourite with Betfred.
The Australian raider,
trained by Paul Messara, put in a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot in June
but bounced back with a fourth placed finish in the Group One Darley July Cup
before an easy success in the Group Two Gordon's King George Stakes at Glorious
Goodwood on August 3.
Bated Breath started his season in
scintillating form when breaking the five-furlong course record at Haydock Park
in the betfred.com Temple Stakes on May 26, before running Hong Kong raider
Little Bridge to a neck in the Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in
June.
Roger Charlton's charge
was beaten a nose by Dream Ahead in last year's renewal and is still chasing
his first victory at the top level. Charlton may also saddle Genki, who
finished fourth last year.
Also among the
confirmations is Richard Fahey's Mayson, who stormed to a five-length
victory in the Darley July Cup on July 14, giving his trainer and rider Paul
Hanagan their first British Group One victory. Fahey could also be represented
by Listed scorer Majestic Myles.
The sole French-trained entry
is Wizz Kid, who chased home Moonlight Cloud in the Group One Prix
Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 5 after a disappointing performance in
the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Prior to that, she had
recorded a comfortable one and three-quarter length success in the Prix du
Gros-Chene over five furlongs at Chantilly in May. Betfred make the
four-year-old filly a 14/1 chance.
John O'Connor, manager
to owner Maeve Mahony, said: "At the moment, subject to confirmation from
Robert Collet (trainer), the intention is to run Wizz Kid in the Betfred Sprint
Cup.
"She is in good
form. She has spent the month up in Deauville and ran very well when second to
Moonlight Cloud in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. She is now back at her base in
Chantilly.
"She was
disappointing at Royal Ascot and that is the only time we have been
disappointed with her because she is normally very consistent. We don't know
why exactly, but she didn't run her race (in the King's Stand Stakes).
"Her run at
Deauville was good and she was a comfortable second. I think Moonlight Cloud
quickened four lengths clear and got first run on us and although Wizz Kid
didn't make that much ground up on her, it was still a very good run.
"At her best,
Moonlight Cloud is a very good filly.
"Wizz Kid was very
impressive earlier in the season at Chantilly - it was her second success in
the Prix du Gros-Chene. I'm not too sure why that race suits her so well but
it's probably because they go quick up front and she gets her chance to come
home well.
"She has form at
six furlongs when she was second in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot
last year and that form would put her bang there on Saturday.
"We are hopeful she
still has some more to come and Robert (Collet) feels she is still maturing and
developing.
"Soft ground is not
essential but she handles it."
Society Rock could bid for his first
success since capturing the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot
last season, while David Barron could be represented by Hitchens, who
won the Listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket on August 25.
Strong Suit could line up for
trainer Richard Hannon after finishing second in the Group Two Betfred
Hungerford Stakes on August 18, while dual Group One winner Kingsgate Native
could have his first start for Robert Cowell.
Soul remains engaged for
Godolphin and could look to bounce back from a disappointing performance in the
Hungerford Stakes, while Gordon Lord Byron goes forward for Irish
handler Tom Hogan after a Listed victory at York on August 25.
Ireland's champion
trainer Aidan O'Brien could saddle Reply, who finished last in the
Darley July Cup, while fellow Irish handler David Marnane could send over
Dandy Boy, who landed the Wokingham Handicap in great fashion at Royal
Ascot in June.
Jim Goldie has left in Hawkeyethenoo,
who bagged another big handicap when taking the Stewards' Cup at Glorious
Goodwood on August 4, while Mark Johnston could saddle progressive
three-year-old Es Que Love.
The entries are
completed by Brian Meehan's Elusivity and Confessional.
The Betfred Sprint Cup
is part of the sprint division of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
Betfred Sprint Cup
betting:
Ortensia 11/4, Bated Breath 4/1, Mayson 9/1, Society Rock 10/1, Strong Suit
10/1, Hitchens12/1, Soul 14/1, Wizz Kid 14/1, Dandy Boy 16/1, Hawkeyethenoo
16/1, Gordon Lord Byron 25/1, Reply 25/1, Elusivity 33/1, Es Que Love 33/1,
Kingsgate Native 33/1, Genki 40/1, Majestic Myles 40/1, Confessional 50/1
The Betfred Sprint Cup is
run on the third and final day of the Betfred Sprint Cup Festival, which kicks
off on Thursday, September 6. The action on Saturday also features the Listed
Betfred "Still Treble The Odds On Lucky 15s" Stakes run over a mile
for two-year-olds and the Listed Celebrating 45 Years Of Betfred Superior Mile,
also over a mile, for three-year-olds and upwards.
GOING
The going at Haydock
Park is currently GOOD.
Kirkland Tellwright,
Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park, reported today: "We had one
millimetre of rain over the weekend which was nothing of note and the going is
currently good.
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