Horse Power: Shaquille can prove too good in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park
SHAQUILLE should prove too good for his rivals in the Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (British Champions Series) (3.35pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon. While in Ireland at Leopardstown AUGUSTE RODIN can take the Group One Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (3.20pm).
Julie Camacho’s Shaquille has been one of the stars of the season and has looked superb over the six furlongs he will encounter again in the Group One feature on Merseyside. Although he has his quirks – being slowly away and getting behind in his races – his massive ability gets him out of trouble and he has been superb in his two wins in Group One company on his two most recent starts. The three-year-old son of Charm Spirit has lost just once in eight career starts and having landed victories in handicap and Listed company on his first two starts this season at Newmarket and Newbury respectively, he stepped up to the top level with a stunning victory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Despite missing the break and being well behind at one stage, Shaquille came through to win in fine style from Aidan O’Brien’s talented Little Big Bear. Similarly slowly away Shaquille was even more impressive when taking on his elders in the July Cup. He scored by a length-and-half from the reopposing Run For Freedom at Headquarters.
There is always a chance that one day that tardiness may cost him, but it’s a frightening thought how much better he could be if getting out quickly. Although there are plenty of dangers – including the aforementioned Henry Candy-trained Run For Freedom, Karl Burke’s Prix Maurice De Gheest runner-up Spycatcher and the improving Mill Stream, from the Jane Chapple-Hyam stable – Shaquille may just be too good for them and can land another Group One win.
Sir Mark Prescott’s SEA KING can come out on top in the hugely-competitive Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap (3pm). The four-year-old gelded son of the Sea The Stars landed a third career victory at Goodwood at the end of last month, having been second at Kempton on his penultimate start in May. That win was in soft conditions but he won on good to firm at Doncaster last April and still remains open to improvement. He can win again ahead of chiefly Andrew Balding’s Aztec Empire and the Kevin Ryan-trained Forza Orta.
REGAL REALITY may be able to land another victory in the Group Three Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes (1.50pm). Sir Michael Stoute’s eight-year-old is still a force at this level, as he showed when landing the Group Three Diomed Stakes at Epsom in June. He was then a close-up third in a similar event at Windsor and he looks like he will go very close again.
Irish trainer O’Brien has bigger fish to fry in his homeland but he may land only a second success at Haydock Park with DENMARK, under jockey James Doyle, in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap (2.25pm). Sprinter Little Big Bear gave him a first win on Merseyside earlier in the season and the lightly-raced and improving Denmark – who was a good second in the Melrose Handicap at York’s Ebor meeting – can give him another win on Merseyside.
Jockey Doyle may also have already landed the Sprint Cup with Shaquille and he could grab a sprint double with the Michael Appleby-trained RAASEL in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap (4.10pm). The six-year-old was superb last season, winning three times in four starts early on in the campaign including over course and distance last May. The Showcasing gelding has found wins harder to come by this season but has been on the go in some top contests including when third in the Listed Achilles Stakes over course and distance in June, at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. He is back down into handicap company and despite carrying top weight he can land the victory he has been hinting at on a couple of recent runs.
Others who can score at Haydock are Ralph Beckett’s once-raced Newmarket winner MACDUFF in the Listed Betfair Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes (4.45pm); and Liverpool FC fan and trainer Burke’s Tele Red – a course and distance scorer in July – in the finale, the Extra Places Any Day With Betfair Handicap (5.15pm).
At Leopardstown AUGUSTE RODIN can bounce back from his King George disappointment to win the Group One Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (3.20pm). Trainer O’Brien has already shown he can get the talented Deep Impact colt back from a disappointing effort this season. Auguste Rodin’s no-show in the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas was followed by a superb victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom, beating the reopposing King Of Steel. He added a workmanlike Irish Derby success thereafter, but was a hugely disappointing last of 10 in the King George at Ascot in July. Following a little break, on better ground and in the care of the maestro O’Brien a chance is taken Auguste Rodin can bounce back and land a third Group One win of the season.
At Ascot Charlie Johnston’s consistent PERFECT PLAY may land a second win of the season after several fine placed efforts in the Lavazza Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (3.10pm).
Stuart Williams’ QUINAULT saw his six-race winning run come to an end over six furlongs at Ascot last time, but stepped up to seven furlongs in the bet365 Handicap (2.35pm) may get his head back in front again.
Others who can win at Ascot are Clive Cox’s SPIRIT OF THE BAY in the Royal Ascot Racing Club 25th Anniversary British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (4.20pm) and the Michael Appleby-trained duo BLIND BEGGAR and BEDFORD FLYER in the Fever-Tree Handicap (4.55pm) and the National Racehorse Week Handicap (5.30pm) respectively.
At Kempton Balding’s ARRAY can win the Group Three Unibet Zero% Mission Sirenia Stakes (3.25pm), while the John and Thady Gosden-trained ISRAR can land the opener, the Group Three Unibet September Stakes (1.35pm).
Last year’s winner, the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained FIRST VIEW, can score again in the Unibet London Mile Series Final Handicap (Series Final – Qualified Horses Only) (2.10pm).
Back at Leopardstown Dermot Weld’s star filly TAHIYRA can land another Group One success in the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (3.55pm); while the exciting O’Brien colt DIEGO VELAZQUEZ can make it two wins from two starts in the Group Two Golden Fleece Stakes (2.15pm).
At the Curragh on Sunday O’Brien’s returning staying star KYPRIOS – a winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Prix Du Cadran last season before injury – can return to win the Group One Comer Group International Irish St Leger (4.35pm).
It could be another good day for the Ballydoyle maestro at the Curragh with two of his star juveniles – CITY OF TROY and YLANG YLANG – set to continue their scintillating progress with victory in the Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (No Geldings) (4pm) and the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes (Fillies) (3.25pm) respectively.
Wright Ones
HAYDOCK PARK
1.50pm Regal Reality
2.25pm Denmark
3pm Sea King
3.35pm Shaquille
4.10pm Raasel
4.45pm Macduff
5.15pm Tele Red
ASCOT
2pm Ghostwriter
2.35pm Quinault
3.10pm Perfect Play
3.45pm Botanical
4.20pm Spirit Of The Bay
4.55pm Blind Beggar
5.30pm Bedford Flyer
THIRSK
2.05pm Swift Salian
2.40pm Boiling Point
3.15pm Firing Squad
3.50pm Muntadab
4.25pm Sterling Knight
5pm Zapphire
5.35pm Knockbrex
6.10pm Michael’s Pledge
KEMPTON
1.35pm Israr
2.10pm First View
2.50pm Bits And Bobs
3.25pm Array
4pm Captain Kane
4.35pm Brasil Power
5.10pm Recuerdame
5.45pm Island Of Skye
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.25pm Prince Ali
6pm A Dublin Lad
6.30pm Hint Of The Jungle
7pm Kaaress
7.30pm Spanish Angel
8pm Admirable Lad
8.30pm Greek Giant
LEOPARDSTOWN
2.15pm Diego Velazquez
2.45pm Tahiyra
3.20pm Auguste Rodin (NAP)
3.55pm Victoria Road
4.30pm Al Aasy
CURRAGH (TOMORROW)
1.50pm Jon Riggens
2.25pm Jackie Oh
2.55pm Highfield Princess
3.25pm Ylang Ylang
4pm City Of Troy
4.35pm Kyprios (NAP)
