United Kingdom
Mehmas' Minzaal electrifies the Sprint Cup
Haydock missed the rain on Friday night and Saturday (local time) and so the depleted lineup for the feature G1 Betfair Sprint Cup needed a stimulant. It got that and then some in the form of Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who came to the fore in scintillating fashion to become yet another in a long line of star sprinters operating in the Shadwell livery.
Looking ready for this career-defining moment when storming to success in Newbury's G3 Hackwood S. on a similarly fast surface over this six-furlong (1200-metre) trip on July 16, the 7-2 second favourite who had been second to Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in Deauville's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest in the interim on August 7, was visually full of running covered up in mid-pack by Jim Crowley.
Let loose approaching the final furlong, the Owen Burrows-trained 4-year-old piled it on the romp to a 3.75l verdict over last year's winner Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), who denied Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) by a short head.
“That was impressive, but it's not a surprise because we've always held him in high regard,” Crowley said. “He won the Gimcrack at two and then he went wrong after that. He is a remarkable horse because he is so laid-back. He is like a boxer, literally, the bell goes and he wakes up then. He is a real dude."
Exceed And Excel's Mischief Magic impresses at Kempton
Back in the spotlight after administering a 6.5l trouncing to overmatched rivals in a six-furlong (1200-metre) novices' heat at Newmarket last month, Godolphin's homebred 2-year-old colt Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) was in the similarly destructive mood in Saturday's G3 Sirenia S. at Kempton. He had earlier debuted with a third behind subsequent G2 Richmond S. victor Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) over Goodwood's sharp six furlongs in May before breaking through, tackling the same distance at Newmarket towards the end of July in his penultimate start.
The eventual winner was drawn widest of a reduced field of 10 and found a comfortable rhythm in the rear, with just one behind through halfway. Nudged along to close approaching the quarter-mile (400-metre) marker, the 11-5 favourite engaged turbo down the outside and powered by all but one of his rivals in impressive fashion to win, going away, by 2l from Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) for a career-high.
The victory also marked an impressive milestone for Darley’s Exceed And Excel, who is now the sire of 100 individual Group race winners worldwide. He stands at Darley's Kelvinside for $132,000 (inc GST) in 2022.
“It was a great ride by Pat (Dobbs) and the horse is going the right way,” commented Charlie Appleby. “The (G1) Middle Park (at Newmarket) will be the next step all being well.” Dobbs added, “He didn't jump brilliantly so I didn't have much option but to drop in. I was always travelling, but when I gave him a squeeze there was plenty of horse left and we got there too soon. He's got a very good turn of foot and we picked them off quickly. He's got a good head on his shoulders, he's relaxed and will get seven furlongs. I'm not sure how far he can go, but he's definitely going in the right direction.”
USA
Tapit's Flightline in a race of his own in Pacific Classic
The US$1million (AU$1.47 million) question heading into Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI TVG Pacific Classic was if unbeaten superstar Flightline (USA) (Tapit {USA}) could handle the 1 1/4-mile and a quarter (2000-metre) Classic distance.
Here's a scary thought: he may be even better going longer.
Stopping the timer just 0.17s off Candy Ride's (Arg) track record for 10 furlongs established in the 2003 renewal, the dominating last-out G1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. winner absolutely crushed his five rivals by a geared-down record margin of 19.25l – yes, you read that correctly – in a performance for the ages while making his two-turn debut in the Del Mar centrepiece. Country Grammer (USA) (Tonalist {USA}), the winner of this term's G1 Dubai World Cup, was second.
“Did I think he could do that–win like that? Kinda, yeah,” winning trainer John Sadler said after saddling his fourth Pacific Classic winner. “You don't want to say it in front of the race, but now that he's done it. The thing about him is that he's fast and he can carry it. Some horses are fast, but they can't go on. This horse can. He's an exceptional horse.”
Speightstown's Olympiad triumphs in Jockey Club Gold Cup
Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods's Olympiad (USA) (Speightstown {USA}), a head-scratching fourth in the G1 Whitney S., bounced back with a powerful performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.
The 8-5 favourite jumped well from his inside draw and sat a perfect, stalking trip in second behind longshot pacesetter Tax (USA) (Arch {USA}). Racing in between rivals as last year's G1 Cigar Mile H. winner Americanrevolution (USA) (Constitution {USA}), one of four entered for Todd Pletcher, continued to draw closer heading into the far turn, Olympiad struck the front as Tax was the first to blink approaching the quarter pole.
Olympiad turned for home as the clear-cut one to beat, but was still going strong three-sixteenths (300 metres) from home while Americanrevolution remained one-paced in an all-out second and sailed home 2l clear over that rival in his first career attempt at the Classic distance. First Captain (USA) (Curlin {USA}) was up for third.
