Next Saturday Australian mare, Ortensia, will try to add to her fantastic Nunthorpe Stakes triumph by winning The Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. The event, founded in 1966 by football pools magnate, Robert Sangster, has a wonderful history and was originally known as The Vernon’s Sprint- and run on the round course in November. Open to two year olds in those days, its first winner- and only dual winner- was indeed a two year old. Given the generous weight concession, Peter O’Sullevan’s Be Friendly, scooted home in the hands of Colin Williams. A year later, he repeated the success when ridden by Scobie Breasley. For the first twenty years, the race was run on the round course with a sharp left hand bend, and both the draw and jockeyship were vital factors. The general practice was to ‘get to the bend first’ and cross over to the stand rails- although some jockeys preferred to race up the middle of the course. The only other successful two year old was Bill Marshall’s The Blues, in 1973, but that age group became ineligible to race from 1980 onwards- though briefly reinstated from 1989-1994. Since 1986, it has been run on Haydock’s straight track , and was afforded Group One status in 1988. Invariably run on very soft November going in the early days, its transfer to September has made the going far less likely to be testing. Many classy horses have won the race- notably Green God, Green Desert, Moorestyle, Dayjur, Danehill, to name but a few. Last year, top colt, Dream Ahead, just prevailed in a desperate finish with Bated Breath and Hoof It. The race occasionally attracts top milers (from both sexes) stepping down in distance, but the race is always run at a furious pace, and they need a good position in order to bring their stamina into play in what is a very demanding race. I particularly remember the 1978 running. Champion French filly, Sanedtki, was odds on to win the race, but had a hopeless position coming round the bend- and into the final furlong. The winner, Absalom, was making the best of his way home and, although the filly flew home, she was desperately unlucky to fail by a short head to catch Absalom. This year, O’Brien’s top miler, Excelebration, attempts a similar path. He will be one of the favourites when he tries to overthrow Ortensia and the rest of a very competitive field- including Bated Breath, Mayson, Strong Suit, Society Rock, and last year’s arguably unlucky third, Hoof It. What do members think of the race, and which horses do they fancy? Would a member like to give a preview and analysis?
I can remember Ajdal winning this and he ran in The Derby so Excelebration should find the drop in trip a cake walk! I'm not sure 6f is ideal for the last mentioned.He was flat to the boards over two out in the Jacques Le Marois lto and stayed on late to win.I fear he may get outpaced. It would be good to see him running although one gets the impression that every time he takes to the track he is only performing to shore up the collateral form of Frankel in a lot of peoples eyes,rather than carving his own career. This race,aside from last year, has a prettty undistinguished recent roll of honour..be nice to see it get a boost.
"This race,aside from last year, has a prettty undistinguished recent roll of honour..be nice to see it get a boost." I can't disagree with that, Dex. There's been a bit of a dearth of top specialist sprinters in recent years- they seem to br "much of a muchness." Maybe's Excelebration's class will enable him to take the race, since tthose sprinters are "in and out."
I guess '86 to 90 has to be the greatest period for the race. I remember Be Friendly's wins and the professionalism of O'Sullevan in calling the race. Not sure 2yos have a weight advantage, Be Friendly was a good sprinter as a 2yo and 3yo: he was the sprint champion of '67. In '68 he won the Prix de l'Abbaye and couldn't compete in the Vernons that year due to its abandonment. His big strength was of course that he handled heavy going, and heavy going at Haydock in November is what he got.
