AIN'T NO FORTUNATE SON
Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) maintained his perfect tally in a June 13 York handicap last time and made the great leap forward on black-type debut with a 10-1 success in Saturday's G1 Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock. Oblivious to a bump leaving the gates, the bay sophomore kept a watchful eye in the second rank through the early fractions of the six-furlong dash. He cruised up to the leaders passing the quarter-mile marker, was soon in front and proved game under an all-out drive in the dying embers to first see off Magical Memory (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) before holding the late thrust of Strath Burn (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) by a short head. “I thought I had it, but I wanted to hear it called out first,” said a relieved Fergus Sweeney after claiming a first victory at the highest level. “He's done nothing but improve all year, he's an absolute star. He really wanted to win and full credit to [trainer] Mr [Henry] Candy for letting me ride him. I thought this level might come a year too soon, but I couldn't believe the ease in which he traveled into the race. I'd have loved to have had a lead for a bit longer, but nothing was good enough.”
Posting juvenile scores in a Aug. 13 Salisbury maiden and Sept. 16 nursery handicap at Thirsk, Twilight Son opened this semester with a taking handicap victory at Newmarket May 2 and went four-for-four in another handicap at York last time. This narrow verdict made it five straight wins at five furlongs and provided Henry Candy with a second renewal of the Lancashire venue's seasonal highlight following the win of Markab (GB) (Green Desert) in 2010. “It was an immense relief as I thought I might look incredibly stupid [for running], but Fergus [Sweeney] was very complimentary about the horse and said he couldn't believe the ease in which he took him into the race,” the trainer commented. “He said he just felt that nothing would get by him, and that the horse wouldn't have let anything by him if they'd gone on for another furlong. He's incredibly tough, he's a natural and has kept on improving. I wish I'd taken a picture because he's twice the size he was a year ago and is a magnificent specimen. He was a baby for a long time and just needed time–that magic thing with racehorses.” Regarding future plans, Candy continued, “I imagine the owners might like to race on with him, but I think he might have just one more run [this season]. The championship race [Oct. 17 G1 British Champions Sprint] at Ascot would be the logical next run and then hopefully next year as well.” Strengthening his hand in the sprinting division by saddling the second and third, trainer Charlie Hills was upbeat despite the defeat. “I am delighted and really proud of both horses,” he said. “The winner is a very good horse, he has beaten us three times this year and it was an exciting finish. The draw wasn't ideal for Strath Burn, so he has done tremendously well to get where he did. I've always loved him, he has a lot of class and can only get better. Magical Memory looked like winning for a good way and the ground is probably a bit tacky for him, but I couldn't be more proud of them.”
Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFRED SPRINT CUP-G1, £286,000, HAY, 9-5, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.86, g/s.
1–#@&TWILIGHT SON (GB), 127, c, 3, by Kyllachy (GB)
1st Dam: Twilight Mistress (GB), by Bin Ajwaad (Ire)
2nd Dam: By Candlelight (Ire), by Roi Danzig
3rd Dam: Penny Candle, by Be My Guest
O-Godfrey Wilson & Cheveley Park Stud; B-Mrs C R D Wilson (GB); T-Henry Candy; J-Fergus Sweeney. £162,191. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $376,201. *1/2 to Music Master (GB) (Piccolo {GB}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $225,684. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Strath Burn (GB), 127, c, 3, Equiano (Fr)–Irish Light, by Irish River (Fr). (40,000gns Wlg '12 TATFOA; 30,000gns RNA Ylg '13 TATYEA; 62,000gns 2yo '14 TATBRE). O-Qatar Racing Ltd & R A Bartlett; B-Mrs R Wilson (GB); T-Charles Hills. £61,490.
3–Magical Memory (Ire), 127, g, 3, Zebedee (GB)–Marasem (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (€23,000 Wlg '12 GOFNOV; €35,000 Ylg '13 GOFORB). O-Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds I; B-Wardstown Stud Ltd. (IRE); T-Charles Hills. £30,774.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 10.00, 33.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: G Force (Ire), Due Diligence, Danzeno (GB), Eastern Impact (Ire), Belardo (Ire), Adaay (Ire), Gordon Lord Byron (Ire), Pearl Secret (GB), Watchable (GB), Waady (Ire), Mattmu (GB), Tiggy Wiggy (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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