Haydock Sprint Cup tips and predictions: Shaquille backed for win

The Sprint Cup at Haydock is one of the leading sprint races of the season in the UK. The Group 1 contest is run over 6f and features three-year-olds and above.

A full field of 17 runners has been declared to run the prestigious contest, including leading three-year-old Shaquille. Five of the previous 10 renewals have been won by horses aged three, so his connections will be hoping their horse can add his name to that list.

Surprise Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem is the highest-rated older horse in the contest, as he bids for more Group 1glory this season, while The Antarctic travels across the Irish Sea for Aidan O’Brien, as the Irish trainer bids for a first success in the race.

Haydock Sprint Cup, Saturday September 9, 3.35pm 

Haydock Sprint Cup tips

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Shaquille has been unstoppable this season

After a modest novice campaign, SHAQUILLE began the season in a handicap contest off a mark of 94. It did not take him long to rise to the highest level where he has proved himself to be one of the leading sprinters in Europe.

Julie Camacho’s charge featured in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot after a Listed success at Newbury. He got off to a terrible start in that three-year-old contest at the royal meeting, but it did not prevent him from scoring.

He hit the front of the field inside the final half-furlong of the race, after finishing the contest better than any of his rivals, including Ballydoyle colt Little Big Bear, who had to settle for second place.

The son of Charm Spirit proved that victory in the Group 1 contest was no fluke as he backed it up with another big run in the July Cup.

That was his first challenge against older horses – and although he had a 6lb allowance on his side for his age, he was far too powerful and fast for any of the runners in the field.

The talented three-year-old is already the highest-rated entry in this contest, with an official rating of 120. Expect to see him enhance that further with another huge performance in the sprint division.

Sacred back in the mix over this trip

All four of SACRED’s victories have come over 7f, but she has produced some excellent performances over 6f in recent seasons, including earlier this year at Royal Ascot where she was second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, finishing a neck behind Khaadem.

With stamina for much further, the mare tends to fare well in big fields like this where there is sure to be a strong pace. She stays on strongly in the final furlong when many of her rivals have cried enough.

William Haggas’s five-year-old began the season with a victory in a Group 3 contest at Lingfield (7f) on the all-weather. She was not at her best last time at York in the Group 2 City Of York Stakes, but that run can be forgiven.

Connections are opting to put first-time cheekpieces on their charge for this outing.

Jockey Tom Marquand was on board at Royal Ascot and he knows the best way to ride this mare. If she is in contention in the final furlong here, she will have a big chance of landing the top prize.

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