Haydock

Haydock missed the rain on Friday night and Saturday and so the depleted line-up 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 trip July 16, the 7-2...

   Sent off at 1-3 to extend his winning sequence in Saturday's Listed Ascendant S. at Haydock, Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) overcame some trouble in running to add to Charlie Appleby's enviable recent tally in juvenile black-type races. With the stable dominant in the G2 Gimcrack S., Listed Stonehenge S., G3 Solario S. and G3 Prestige S. in the past fortnight and soon to garner the G3 Sirenia S. later in the afternoon, any other result than an easy success for the 6 1/2-length Listed Pat Eddery S. winner...

Britain's prolonged dry spell could be about to end on Saturday, with various connections either beckoning the rain gods or praying the wet stays away for another action-packed afternoon. Haydock's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup has often been played out on rain-softened conditions in the past and, given the time of year it is staged, some give underfoot is to be expected but whether there will be enough moisture to alter the current quick ground remains to be seen. One who has proven form on all types of going is Shadwell's...

There is no concern with small field sizes in an ultra-competitive edition of Haydock's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday, with a maximum line-up of 17 sprinters heading to post after the draw was made on Thursday. In the past 10 runnings, only Dream Of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) were drawn in double figures, so connections of the leading fancies Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) would have been buoyed...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of Breeders' Cup heroine Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}). 2.50 Salisbury, Mdn, £24,000, 2yo, f, 6f 213yT DOOM (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the fourth foal out of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI Beverly D. S. heroine Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}),...

David Evans has nominated the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock as the likely next outing for his star sprinter Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) after his excellent fourth in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday. The 4-year-old bounced back from a spell in the wilderness when successfully defending his crown in the Wokingham S. at Royal Ascot in June. After finishing a creditable fourth in a Group 3 at Newbury, Rohaan proved he still has what it takes to be a force to be reckoned with...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a full-brother to Group 1 winner Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). 2.10 Haydock, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 6fT MUTAANY (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) debuts for Shadwell and is a full-brother to the G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Eqtidaar (Ire) and half-brother to the G2 Hungerford S.-winning sire first-season...

National Hunt jockey Josh Moore remains in the critical care unit at Aintree University Hospital following a fall at Haydock on Saturday. Moore sustained serious injuries, including a broken femur, punctured lung, broken ribs and damage to his lower back, when his mount Gleno (Ire), trained by the jockey's father Gary, fell during a steeplechase. Gleno was unhurt. Following successful surgery on his broken leg, Moore has been placed under sedation after contracting a chest infection which is interrupting further required treatment, including a second operation on his back.  A...

The approach of Storm Eunice, which will impact Ireland and the United Kingdom on Friday, has caused some racecourses to cancel their cards as a precautionary measure. Fakenham was called off on Thursday due to the severe weather warnings, and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has cancelled Dundalk's Friday card, too. The storm is expected to bring high winds and, in some cases, snow. "We discussed the situation with Jim Martin of Dundalk Stadium and Met Eireann this morning and again this afternoon and we felt with the current forecast...

It was tight at the end of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, with Andrea Atzeni celebrating a black-type treble on the day on Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) who denied Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in a photo. Revived of late, the 5-year-old who had been second in the five-furlong G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20 tanked along early off the pace but had plenty left to take over approaching the final furlong. Clinging on late as the even-money favourite found his stride...

Both Godolphin's Book 1 sensation Hafit (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred blueblood Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) were breaking their maidens Aug. 6, but as the latter was doing so at the third attempt it was the 2.1 million guineas purchase Hafit that elicited the greater excitement in a fascinating renewal of Saturday's Listed Betfair Exchange Ascendant S. Triple Time, who had been started over an inadequate six furlongs when third behind the subsequent G2 Superlative S. third Dhabab (Ire) (No Nay Never) at Leicester June 1, was a...

Haydock hosts the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4, and Group 1 winner Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is one of 14 signed on in the six-furlong affair. A winner of the G1 Darley July Cup S. ahead of Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) on July 10, the David Ward colourbearer ran third, one better than Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest to Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) at Deauville on Aug. 8 for trainer Ed Walker. Fellow Group 1 winner Glen...