Sleepless Night put the Sprinters Stakes field to rest as the No. 1 choice won the sixth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge with her fifth consecutive victory on Sunday afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse.
With a strong finish that held off Kinshasa no Kiseki and B B Guldan, jockey Hiroyuki Uemura made a Grade 1 champion out of himself as he led trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi’s 4-year-old filly.
It was the 34-year-old Uemura’s first Grade 1 win of his 17-year career, which also happened to come on Hashiguchi’s 63rd birthday. Sleepless Night cut a time of 1 minute, 8.0 seconds over the 1,200 meters on a firm track, finishing a length and a quarter in front of runner-up and second favorite Kinshasa no Kiseki.
“I’ve managed to come this far because of Mr. Hashiguchi and I can’t thank him enough,” said Uemura, tears in his eyes. “He gave me the opportunity to ride Sleepless Night. I just tried not to worry about anything because it wouldn’t do the horse any good.”
Sleepless Night collected 10 points in the Global Sprint Challenge with two races remaining in the series. Former Sprinters Stakes champion Takeover Target currently leads the competition with 16 points, three points ahead of Kingsgate Native, five points ahead of Marchand d'Or and Kanoya Zakura.
Hashiguchi said he could not have asked for a bigger birthday gift.
“There has been a lot of pressure on me in the past week, so this result is great,” he said. “I had no concerns with her, physically, but this is the Sprinters Stakes. A bad start or a single mistake can cost you.”
The trainer said he is weighing several options for his new star, including the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on Dec. 14, the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. The seventh race, the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington, will be held on Nov. 8.
“I don’t think there is a lot left for her, domestically,” Hashiguchi said. “The Hong Kong Sprint is an option. I’m also thinking Dubai because she can handle the dirt. But there’s no question she’s a specialist at 1,200 meters.”
Hashiguchi added that he could not be happier for Uemura, who has had to overcome a lot up until Sunday.
“That is actually the best thing about this victory,” Hashiguchi said of Uemura, who was forced to battle a severe eye infection that put his career at jeopardy. “He had to have surgery four times on his eye, and he nearly lost his career. I’m happy but I think his family is the happiest.”
The post time of 3:40 p.m. arrived under fair skies in Chiba Prefecture, and the race opened with long-shot Western Venus jumping out to the lead along the back stretch, followed by M O Winner, Apollo Dolce and B B Guldan just to the outside. Sleepless Night shadowed Ando’s mount, patiently waiting for the final turn to arrive.
“The only concern I had was the start,” Uemura said. “But she broke well and everything worked out. I waited and waited until the last turn, and she just exploded on the straight.
The first five races of the Global Sprint Challenge has each featured a different winner, the latest being Kanoya Zakura, who won the Centaur Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on Sept. 14. Whoever tops the Sprinters Stakes this weekend will give Japan a good shot at bringing home its first Global Sprint Challenge title.
The Japanese autumn Grade 1 season is ready for launch with the 42nd Sprinters Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture, the sixth of eight legs in the Global Sprint Challenge (GSC). The race, unfortunately, will be lacking in international flavor with a pure domestic field of 16, but the Sprinters Stakes will not be short of buzz and excitement with one of the most competitive groups in recent memory set to fill the barriers.
Former Sprinters Stakes champion Takeover Target currently leads the three-year-old GSC series with 16 points, three points ahead of Kingsgate Native and five points ahead of Marchand d'Or. Three horses - Apache Cat, Equiano and Kanoya Zakura - are tied on 10 points. Further down the standings is Symboli Gran on five points, the other runner from the Japan Racing Association (JRA).
Kanoya Zakura can overtake Takeover Target with a victory on Sunday; a runner-up finish would bring her within a point of the leader with two races to go. Symboli Gran would jump to second with a win, and any other champion will immediately come into play with the 10-point reward.
But whoever wins will have to overcome a tough 1,200 meters at Nakayama. The race opens with a downhill of 200 meters to the first turn, which bends for 400 meters before reaching the sharper final turn heading into the 310-meter home stretch - famous for its shortness and the steep uphill over the last 200 meters.
The Sprinters Stakes wasn't always associated with fame. It was founded in 1967 as the only graded race at 1,200 meters for 3-year-olds and up, and was originally assigned Grade 3 status in 1984. The race was bumped up to Grade 2 in 1987, to serve as a stepping stone to the Yasuda Kinen.
The Sprinters Stakes finally became a Grade 1 race in 1990, when it was fixed a week ahead of the Arima Kinen in December as the finale to the sprint season. It was opened to international entries in 1994, and moved to its current date six years later as the first race of the autumn Grade 1 season.
SUZUKA PHOENIX: With Yutaka Take away in France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the 2007 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner will have a new partner in the saddle: Norihiro Yokoyama. Yokoyama may not have record numbers like Take, but the veteran is no less a big-race jockey than the superstar. Trainer Mitsuru Hashida could not have found a better pinch-hitter in the popular Yokoyama, and come post time, Suzuka Phoenix could very well be the top choice despite an eighth-place finish in the Centaur Stakes. The 6-year-old son of Sunday Silence has never won at Nakayama, but there's a first time for everything; as long as the horse leaves his barrier smoothly, Suzuka Phoenix could add another Grade 1 title to his trophy case.
FINE GRAIN: The 5-year-old son of Fuji Kiseki was the talk of the spring sprint circuit, winning
the Takamatsunomiya Kinen on March 30, his third straight victory - all at 1,200 meters. Fine Grain was the second choice in the Centaur Stakes because of his outstanding spring but flopped to ninth, his first career defeat over six furlongs. But with one race under his belt - and an impost of 57 kilograms, 2 kilograms lighter than what he ran with in the Centaur Stakes - the horse is almost certain to improve on his last outing. Expect Hideaki Miyuki's mount to bounce back in a big way.
KANOYA ZAKURA: One of two entries from Kojiro Hashiguchi's stable - and both are expected to challenge for honors - this 4-year-old filly is picking up steam at the right time. She won JRA's Summer Sprint series after winning back-to-back graded races, and there was nothing fluky about her victory in the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes. With in-form jockey Futoshi Komaki up, Kanoya Zakura, daughter of legendary sprinter Sakura Bakushin O, could make her father very proud this weekend.
KINSHASA NO KISEKI: A narrow second to Fine Grain in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the 5-year-old Kinshasa no Kiseki may have finally found his groove at 1,200 meters. He has spent most of his career disappointing despite constant hype surrounding this son of Fuji Kiseki. The turnaround began in the spring when he reached the board in the 1,400-meter Hankyu Hai before finishing runner-up in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. After a three-month break, Kinshasa no Kiseki posted his first graded win in July in the 1,200-meter Hakodate Sprint Stakes before taking third in the Keeneland Cup at the end of August. Yasunari Iwata, who has ridden the horse the last three times out, has the reins once again and the time could be now for Kinshasa no Kiseki to come full circle.
SLEEPLESS NIGHT: Trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi's other 4-year-old filly is on an absolute tear, having won four straight all at 1,200 meters, two of the races on dirt. It appears everything is falling into place for the daughter of Japan Cup Dirt winner Kurofune, and the only knock on the young starlet is her lack of experience on the big stage. She also has never tasted the turf at Nakayama, but given her present form, it's looking very difficult to bet against Sleepless Night.
Kanoya Zakura springs into GSC title contention with convincing win
Kanoya Zakura moved into contention for the Global Sprint Challenge title with a sweeping victory in the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.
Third choice Kanoya Zakura upstaged the top two picks—Grade 1 champions Suzuka Phoenix and Fine Grain—to cut a winning time of 1 minute 7.3 seconds over 1,200 meters on firm footing and under sunny skies at the Kansai track.
Kanoya Zakura, ridden by Oka Sho-winning jockey Futoshi Komaki, held off 6-year-old long-shot Symboli Gran by 1 1/4 lengths for the 4-year-old filly’s fifth career win. Promising 3-year-old colt Spring Song, who was the ninth pick in a field of 16, finished a further 1 1/4 lengths behind.
Suzuka Phoenix came home eighth, just in front of Fine Grain who was ninth. The two had been assigned an impost of 58 and 59 kilograms, respectively, against the winner’s 55 kilograms.
With the victory, Kanoya Zakura collected 10 points in the Global Sprint Challenge, six points off the pace of series leader Takeover Target with three races remaining in the eight-legged championship.
Provided that she wins the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes on Oct. 5 at Nakayama Racecourse, Kanoya Zakura – currently in a tie for fourth – can take over the Global Sprint Challenge lead. Kanoya Zakura also won the Japan Racing Association’s Summer Sprint Series after her win on Sunday, brining home a combined 50 million yen bonus for her connections.
The 22nd Centaur Stakes turned out to be a repeat of the one-two from the 1,000-meter Ibis Summer Dash at Niigata in July. The Centaur Stakes, which did not feature a single entry from abroad, was slated to be a fast race with the superb turf conditions on opening weekend at Hanshin.
And it was fast alright. Kanoya Zakura’s time was only two tenths of a second off the race record set by Believe six years ago, and the furious pace didn’t give much of a chance to the late runners.
Kanoya Zakura, Symboli Gran and Spring Song all took position toward the front during the short trip and never looked back. The Yutaka Take-ridden Suzuka Phoenix again was restless inside his barrier and got a terrible jump off the blocks. The former Takamatsunomiya Kinen champion virtually had nothing left for the finish after spending most of what was in his tank to play catchup.
Mastered by the other Take in the field, Koshiro, Spring Song started smoothly from the back stretch and set the tone for two turns. He looked very lively for someone running his first race in four months, and could be an interesting choice for the Sprinters Stakes next month.
But the day belonged to Kanoya Zakura, who showed a closing rush fitting for the long Hanshin stretch. When Komaki flicked the switch, she responded in a heartbeat, leaving her competitors in the dust to cap a performance that will surely make her one of the favorites for the Sprinters Stakes.
Centaur Stakes (G2) – 5th leg of the Global Sprint Challenge
Preview
The Centaur Stakes has been a fixture of the Global Sprint Challenge since the competition was launched in 2005, but the 22nd edition of the Grade 2 race on Sunday afternoon at Hanshin Racecourse will, unfortunately, be lacking in international flavor. The Japan Racing Association has announced that no foreign entries will take part, as well as in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes next month at Nakayama Racecourse.
This year's race for the Global Sprint Challenge title remains tight, with each of the first four legs producing different winners. Former Sprinters Stakes champion Takeover Target sits on top of the table with 16 points despite not having won a race, three points ahead of Kingsgate Native who took the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in June.
Trailing in third with 11 points is Marchand d'Or, the French champion of the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 11. Apache Cat and Equiano, who won the Lightning Stakes and King's Stand Stakes, respectively, are tied for fourth with 10 points. With the absence of the contenders for the Centaur Stakes and the Sprinters Stakes, the Global Sprint Challenge will be determined over the final two legs of the series in Australia and Hong Kong—The Age Classic and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in November and December.
Hanshin Racecourse
The Centaur Stakes may not help decide the Global Sprint Challenge championship, but it will prove crucial in determining the winner of the JRA's Summer Sprint Series as the fifth and final race—and perhaps foretell who will capture the Sprinters Stakes on Oct. 5.
The Centaur Stakes, named after the half-man, half-horse Greek myth character, was founded in 1987 as a Grade 3 race at 1,400 meters. It was changed to the current distance of 1,200 meters in 2000, and upgraded to Grade 2 status two years ago as a prep race for the Sprinter Stakes. The Centaur Stakes became an international race in 2005, when the Global Sprint Challenge was incepted, and in 2007 began accepting as many as eight entries from overseas with the JRA's promotion to Part I status.
The renovated Hanshin track is mostly flat apart from the last 800 meters. The course dips from that point for the next 600 meters until it rises steeply 50 meters from the finish line. Unlike the old Hanshin track, the new course requires plenty of stamina to go along with pace.
While this year's field may be missing the big names from abroad, the domestic crop won't be short of class with four Grade 1 winners in the mix.
The following are the early favorites for the Centaur Stakes:
SUZUKA PHOENIX: The 6-year-old son of Sunday Silence should be one of the top two picks alongside Fine Grain come post time with Yutaka Take handling the reins. The 2007 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner had a disappointing spring by his high standards, failing to record a victory in four starts. Suzuka Phoenix took a backseat to Fine Grain in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, finishing third, and barely reached the board in coming home fifth in the 1,600-meter Yasuda Kinen in June. The horse kept in shape at Hakodate over the summer, and appears ready to redeem himself.
FINE GRAIN: Five-year-old Fine Grain is coming off a spectacular spring, in which the son of Fuji Kiseki had a breakout campaign by winning three straight at 1,200 meters—including the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen. The Shadai-owned horse seems to have finally discovered his stroke at six furlongs, after struggling to find a zone for most of his career. Fine Grain's biggest accolade until this year was a runner-up finish in the 2006 NHK Mile Cup, but that result will become a mere footnote if he remains in the form of the spring. Hideaki Miyuki's mount is unbeaten in four starts at 1,200 meters, and the key for Fine Grain will be overcoming the load of 59 kilograms and a five-month layoff. Form, not talent, will be issue with this rising star.
KANOYA ZAKURA: Trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi's 4-year-old filly won her first graded race in July, topping the 1,000-meter Ibis Summer Dash by half a length at Niigata Racecourse. Perhaps it was just a matter of time as she finished second in the Centaur Stakes last year and third in the Grade 3 Keihan Hai at Kyoto in November. Kanoya Zakura is said to be in good condition, and may make nothing of having to carry 55 kilograms against quality competition. With in-form jockey Futoshi Komaki staying in the saddle, Kanoya Zakura, who is in the hunt for the Summer Sprint Series crown, cannot be overlooked here.
TANINO MARTINI: Not even his trainer, Hikozo Sugai, expected this 8-year-old veteran to do what he did in the Keeneland Cup two weeks ago—win his first graded race, in record time over the two favorites. Tanino Martini has always liked the hot weather, posting five of his eight careers wins from July to September. He's showing no signs of slowing down, and his tenacity running up front will prove advantageous on a fast, opening-week track. Tanino Martini is second in the Summer Sprint Series behind Kinshasa no Kiseki, who has not entered in the Centaur Stakes. Another performance like the one two weeks ago in Sapporo could make Tanino Martini the surprise series champion.
APOLLO DOLCE: He was one of the most talked about horses as a 2-year-old, made as the second favorite in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes–but came in 11th. Apollo Dolce couldn't snap out of it in the ensuing spring, finishing no better than eighth in three races. But in early June from the Unicorn Stakes–on dirt–he started to turn things around. The 3-year-old colt was third in the 1,600-mter Unicorn Stakes, first in the Baden Baden Cup at 1,200 meters and then third again in the Ibis Summer Dash. It appears Apollo Dolce has found his second wind at the sprint distances, and the Centaur Stakes will see if he can reclaim his place among the elite of Japanese racing.
FINAL FIELD FOR THE G1 DARLEY JULY CUP
| NUMBER / BARRIER |
HORSE |
JOCKEY |
TRAINER |
| 1 (4) |
Assertive |
R. Hannon |
Richard Hughes |
| 2 (5) |
Astronomer Royal (USA) |
A. P. O'Brien |
Ryan Moore |
| 3 (1) |
Benbaun (IRE) |
M. J. Wallace |
F. M. Berry |
| 4 (6) |
Diabolical (USA) |
Saeed bin Suroor |
L. Dettori |
| 5 (2) |
Les Arcs (USA) |
S. Parr |
Darryll Holland |
| 6 (9) |
Marchand d'Or (FR) |
F. Head |
D. Bonilla |
| 7 (11) |
Off The Record |
J. G. Given |
T. P. Queally |
| 8 (3) |
Prime Defender |
B. W. Hills |
Michael Hills |
| 9 (12) |
Us Ranger (USA) |
A. P. O'Brien |
J. Murtagh |
| 10 (10) |
Utmost Respect |
R. A. Fahey |
Paul Hanagan |
| 11 (7) |
War Artist (AUS) |
J. M. P. Eustace |
Kerrin McEvoy |
| 12 (13) |
Zidane |
J. R. Fanshawe |
Robert Winston |
| 13 (8) |
Seachange (NZ) |
Graeme Sanders |
Ted Durcan |
| 14 (16) |
Fat Boy (IRE) |
P. W. Chapple-Hyam |
Jimmy Fortune |
| 15 (15) |
Kingsgate Native (IRE) |
J. R. Best |
Seb Sanders |
| 16 (14) |
Sir Gerry (USA) |
J. R. Fanshawe |
Jamie Spencer |
NATIVE HUNTING FOR CUP HONOURS
Hopes are high that Kingsgate Native can bag a third win at the highest level when he lines up for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Friday.
Trained by John Best to win the Nunthorpe as a juvenile, the Mujadil colt put a lacklustre return to action firmly behind him when coming out on top in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and Best is now looking forward to unleashing him again with his stamina for six furlongs no longer in doubt.
Best told At The Races: "He came back really well and he's all ready for Newmarket. I don't think the ground will affect him too much and it's probably more about how it will affect the other horses."
He continued: "He ran on softer ground at Longchamp and has worked on soft ground. We think he's OK on it but until you put them in a race on it you don't really know. I think Marchand D'Or is a big danger, and it'll help him, but we're OK and we're drawn 15 of 16.
"Fat Boy is next to us and there is plenty of pace around us, so we're looking forward to it but there is now a hell of a lot of pressure on as everybody is expecting us to win.
"At Ascot they were expecting us to get beaten but I thought he was a crazy price for a horse that had won a Group One. We think he might have come on a little bit since the Golden Jubilee and I'm very hopeful."
Along with Marchand D'Or, James Fanshawe's Sir Gerry and the James Eustace-trained South African import War Artist are among the other well-fancied contenders. The latter finished second in the Golden Jubilee last month and previously occupied the same position when finding Assertive just too strong at York.
Trainer Richard Hannon said of Assertive: "He looks good, his work has been good and I don't think he'll mind the ground however it turns out."
Seachange, a multiple Grade One winner in her native New Zealand, was declared along with 15 others at the 48-hour stage. However, trainer Graeme Sanders saddled her to finish fourth behind Nahoodh in the UAE Hydra Properties Falmouth Stakes on Wednesday and subsequently confirmed she had run her last race.
KINGSGATE THRILLS BEST
Just four days after the he had finished 10th in the King's Stand Stakes,
Kingsgate Native ran the race of his life in the Group One Jubilee Stakes
to bring Maidstone handler John Best his second success at this year's
Royal Ascot, a victory the trainer celebrated wildly
ner celebrated wildlyRoyal Ascot, a
"I do get very excited when I have winners - it means so much - and to have
winners here is the ultimate," he said.
Best, whose Flashmans Papers won the Windsor Castle Stakes on Tuesday at
100/1, completed a 3,433/1 double with Kingsgate Native's 33/1 success. "I
thought that the 33/1 and 40/1 that were available were crazy prices about
Kingsgate Native for what he had done last year," said the trainer.
Kingsgate Native had enjoyed considerable success as a two-year-old,
including winning the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York, and the trainer
admitted that he had plenty to live up to. "The weights were very much in
his favour as a two-year-old and we didn't know if the form would translate
as a three-year-old," he said.
Tuesday's King Stand run was the horse's first outing of the season and the
trainer felt that the horse had run "with the choke out."
"Immediately after the race I said to the owners John Mayne and the
Thompsons [David and Patricia, owners of the Cheveley Park Stud] that I
didn't think we should rule out the Golden Jubilee. I didn't think we had
anything to lose. He has done a good job to come back so quickly. He has
been sat on once since Tuesday when cantering yesterday - apart from that
he has been out in the field all the time, " the trainer said.
Two days before the race, the trainer booked jockey Seb Sanders to replace
Jimmy Quinn who had ridden the horse in its last three outings. "I think we
needed to try something different," said Best. "I feel sorry for Jimmy
Quinn - he has done a lot of work on the horse. Hopefully, he will have a
chance to get back on, if not on this one on some of my others. He could go
to stud at the end of the year - a decision will have to be made to keep
him in training after then. He should make a good stallion."
Sanders was very complimentary about his mount. "The horse was very
professional, when I asked him the question he responded very well. They
were tough horses that he was up against and this is a proper tough horse
too. Once he had got his head in front there was only going to be one
result. He is a very good sprinter." said the jockey.
The trainer now sees the July Cup at Newmarket as the obvious next target.
"The six furlongs at Newmarket is three seconds slower than at Ascot, so he
shouldn't have any trouble with that." The Nunthorpe is also in the
trainer's plans.
2008 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE POINTS TABLE (after 3 legs of the series)
Takeover Target 16
Apache Cat 10
Equiano 10
Kingsgate Native 10
War Artist 5
Swick 5
MORE TO COME FROM TAKEOVER TARGET
Australian trainer Joe Janiak believes there is more to come from Takeover Target in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday, after the nine-year-old filled the runner-up spot in the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes.
Takeover Target, winner of the King’s Stand Stakes in 2006 and fourth last year, was unable to overhaul Spanish raider Equiano but pleased his handler in battling on to be beaten half a length under Jay Ford.
Janiak said: "I’m very happy with that. He’s blown up a bit so there should still be some improvement for Saturday in the Golden Jubilee Stakes when the extra furlong will suit him better.
"Judging from what Jay (Ford) said, he had the winner two furlongs out but the winner wouldn’t give in. My fella is older and has just lost a bit of speed over this shorter distance - where he used to go away from them - but he’s hung in and he’s superb. He never runs a bad race."
The Celtic Swing gelding was third in the 2006 Golden Jubilee Stakes and was just touched off by Soldier’s Tale in the six-furlong contest 12 months ago. Janiak is keen to take in all three British legs of the Global Sprint Challenge, with the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on the agenda after Ascot.
"If he pulls up well on Saturday he will go to the July Cup at Newmarket. It’s part of the series and now we know more about the track there than when he was seventh in 2006 - we’ll put more work on him this time.
"Jay’s under the impression he’ll get further now that he’s older so a stiff six furlongs shouldn’t be a problem there."
Newmarket trainer Jeremy Noseda believes that beaten 15/8 favourite Fleeting Spirit may have been below par despite finishing a brave third under Ryan Moore, half a length and a neck behind the winner.
Noseda revealed: "I’m happy enough but I don’t think she quite performed to her very best.
"I had a few horses out of sync over the past four or five days and she might have lacked a bit of spark - maybe I’m making excuses.
"She’s run a good brave race but I do think she’s a better filly than that. Time will tell."
SPAIN STRIKE WITH SPEEDY EQUIANO
SPANISH contender Equiano caused a 22-1 shock in a truly international finish to the 5f Kings's Stand Stakes.
The Mauricio Delcher Sanchez-trained three-year-old, runner-up to Golden Jubilee hope Marchand D'Or in a Group 2 in Chantilly last time, benefitted from a clean break and a handy position under French jockey Olivier Peslier.
The field split in the two groups and the stands side held the advantage, allowing Peslier to keep the winner up to his task to fend off Australian sprint-king Takeover Target.
Dandy Man, racing on the farside, looked a likely winner on the charge for the line but was again drawn on the wrong side and lost out on third to favourite Fleeting Spirit, who stayed on well under Ryan Moore.
Peslier said: "He ran very well in France last time and today was the big ambition.
"The horse has a lot of speed and he travels well.
"The trainer said he would be better to stay behind and get cover but I said over five furlongs he'd be better in front.
"He was handy and everything went right for him."
Delighted trainer Mauricio Delcher Sanchez added: "He was my first runner in England - this is easy!"
Meanwhile owner James Acheson, from County Tyrone, expressed his understandable glee having recently purchased the winner.
"He was spotted by my bloodstock agent but I didn't think he'd win today - we thought he was more a horse for next year," said Acheson.
"We bought him two weeks ago and he's going to Barry Hills after today."
AUSSIES CHALLENGE FOR GLOBAL SPRINT GLORY
The 2008 Global Sprint Challenge continues with the running of the $500,000 Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Australian time.
The King’s Stand and Saturday night’s $750,000 Group 1 Golden Jubilee (1200m) represent the second and third legs of this year’s Global Sprint Challenge which began with the Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in February.
The Lightning was won by Australian sprinting’s latest superstar Apache Cat.
Legendary sprinter Takeover Target will contest the Kings’ Stand for the third straight year after winning the race in 2006 and finishing fourth behind Miss Andretti last year.
Trainer Joe Janiak believes the eight-year-old is in better shape than at any time during his previous two visits to Royal Ascot, following his track record breaking performance in the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) in Singapore last month.
Takeover Target, which will then contest the Golden Jubilee, will be joined in the King’s Stand by the Peter Moody-trained Magnus.
Magnus finished third in last year’s King’s Stand and is coming off a courageous second behind Takeover Target in Singapore. Despite not having won for more than 12 months Magnus is racing as well as he was a year ago and must be considered one of the leading chances over the testing 1000 metre course.
Champion Kiwi mare Seachange will also fly the flag for Australasia in both sprints this week.
A final field of 14 has been declared for the King’s Stand.
Favourite for the race is flying three-year-old filly Fleeting Spirit ahead of Takeover Target, Kingsgate Native, Magnus and evergreen performer Benbaun.
Benbaun finished second in the race behind Takeover Target in 2006.
APACHE SCALPS 'EM IN LIGHTNING
Saturday 2 February 2008
Cups King Bart Cummings almost made it a record eighth victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington with consistent sprinter Swick, however nothing was going to catch the Greg Eurell-trained Apache Cat, who pounced on his rivals with sheer brilliance.
Apache Cat’s jockey Corey Brown pulled him out of the pack with 200 metres to go, to take him to a neck victory over Swick and the Colin Davies-trained Stanzout, one-and-a-half-length away in third place.
“I didn’t want to hit the front too early because I’m still getting to know the horse, but he did it with ease…I like him,” said Brown.
Eurell was absolutely delighted with the baldy-faced gelding’s performance and now needs to refocus on where he wants to take the horse.
“He runs so well fresh. I will send him to the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in two weeks time, and then we’ll take it from there,” said Eurell.
The favourite, Gold Edition, ran a credible fourth, however it was later reported that she pulled up lame in the near fore leg. Trainer Ron Maund later announced the grand four-year-old mare would be retired immediately.
The Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes kicks off the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, where Australian sprinters such as Choisir, Miss Andretti and Takeover Target have dominated the series in recent years.
Following the running of the first leg of the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge, the points table stands as follows:
| Apache Cat |
10 |
| Swick |
5 |
| Stanzout |
4 |
| Gold Edition |
3 |
| Miss Finland |
2 |
| Magnus |
1 |
| Grand Duels |
1 |
| Ticklish |
1 |
| Eskaw |
1 |
| Bel Mar |
1 |
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 31 January 2007
GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE TAKES OFF IN MELBOURNE
Some of Australia’s top sprinters will line up in the Coolmore Lightning Stakes - 1000m (G1) at Flemington on Saturday with their connections hoping to follow the now well-trodden path to England and Asia in pursuit of the US$8million Global Sprint Challenge.
The Coolmore Lightning Stakes is the opening race of the eight race series, now in its fourth year, which takes in races in Australia, England, Japan and Hong Kong.
After victories by Hong Kong’s Cape Of Good Hope in 2005, Australia’s Takeover Target in 2006, and the points table topping performances by Australia’s Miss Andretti last year, the stage is set for yet another batch of hopefuls to springboard their international campaigns in the Lightning.
The 2008 Global Sprint Challenge has been modified with some important changes to the format. The series has been expanded to take in an additional UK race, the US$800,000 Darley July Cup 1200m (G1) at Newmarket in England, whilst both Royal Ascot races, the US$500,000 King’s Stand Stakes – 1200m (G1) and the US$750,000 Golden Jubilee Stakes – 1200m (G1), have also received cash injections. The triple-header of Global Sprint Challenge races in the UK now offers over US$2 million in prize money.
Australia’s second leg will now be the US$430,400 Patinack Farm Classic 1200m (G1) to be run at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Patinack Farm Classic replaces Moonee Valley’s Australia Stakes in the series.
The US$1 million bonus is again on offer for any horse that competes in at least one of the races in all four countries – Australia, England, Japan and Hong Kong – and wins a Group 1 race in at least three of those countries.
Racing Victoria Limited CEO, Stephen Allanson, said the Global Sprint Challenge continues to grow in its importance on the world racing calendar.
“Miss Andretti, Takeover Target and Choisir, along with the other Australians who have travelled to the UK and Asia over the past few years have blazed a trail, proving horses can now travel long distances and perform at their peak.
“This year’s Challenge has a new look and provides a well balanced program to encourage international participation.
“In conjunction with the Victoria Racing Club and our international partners in the series, we eagerly await this exciting new chapter of the world’s premier racing series and encourage connections of the best sprinters from the four continents to take up the challenge,” Allanson said.
2008 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE PROGRAM
COUNTRY |
DATE |
RACE |
PRIZE MONEY
(US$) |
COURSE |
Australia |
Sat 2 Feb |
Coolmore Lightning Stakes – 1000m (G1) |
$430,400 |
Flemington |
UK |
Tue 17 Jun |
King’s Stand Stakes – 1000m (G1) |
$501,300 |
Royal Ascot |
UK |
Sat 21 Jun |
Golden Jubilee Stakes – 1200m (G1) |
$752,000 |
Royal Ascot |
UK |
Fri 11 Jul |
Darley July Cup Stakes – 1200m (G1) |
$802,000 |
Newmarket |
Japan |
Sun 14 Sep |
Centaur Stakes – 1200m (G2) |
$1,111,300 |
Hanshin |
Japan |
Sun 5 Oct |
Sprinters Stakes – 1200m (G1) |
$1,759,600 |
Nakayama |
Australia |
Sat 8 Nov |
The Age Classic – 1200m (G1) |
$430,400 |
Flemington |
Hong Kong |
Sun 14 Dec |
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint – 1200m (G1) |
$1,536,000 |
Sha Tin |
Director Racing Operations, Leigh Jordon - Racing Victoria Limited & Host Steve Moran discuss the changes to the 2008 series |
Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations - Ascot Racecourse
|
L- R - Neville Saunders Foreman for trainer Ron Maund - trainer of race favourite Gold Edition; Jockey of Apache Cat, Corey Brown; Robert Crabtree, owner of Magnus |
Global Sprint Challenge Champion trophy, alongside the two Australian Leg trophies |
Hong Kong Jockey Club's Head of International Races, Sale & Development Mark Player |
L-R Mark Player, Corey Brown, Robert Crabtree & Nick Smith |
GOLD EDITION READY TO TAKE HER PLACE
Wednesday 30 January
Iron mare Gold Edition gets her chance during the 2008 Melbourne Festival of Racing to take her place at the top of the sprinting tree, when she kicks off her Melbourne campaign in the opening leg of the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge, the G1 $500,000 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
With the likes of champion sprinters Miss Andretti and Takeover Target missing during the Festival, while they prepare for their international Global Sprint Challenge assaults, the Ron Maund-trained 4yo is the deserved clear favourite for the Festival’s Group 1 sprint triple.
The Melbourne Festival of Racing features four Group 1 sprints in addition to the Lightning, the $400,000 Timbercorp Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on 16 February, the $400,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on 23 February and the $1million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on 8 March
Despite playing second fiddle to Miss Andretti, in their three meetings to date, the iron mare has still managed to chalk up an amazing 17 wins from 36 starts and more than AUS$3 million in prize money.
But Gold Edition is unlikely to have things all her own way in the Lightning either, with outstanding mare Miss Finland and first-up specialist Apache Cat adding some mystery to the 11 entries for the Lightning.
The Lightning Stakes has been a terrific springboard for Australians competing on the international stage. Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006) and Miss Andretti (2007) all won the Lightning before winning the G2 King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.
Another topline sprinter Magnus, who campaigned in England last year, finishing third to Miss Andretti in the King’s Stand, is having his first run back since returning from England. Magnus
The great man Bart Cummings has proved his versatility, winning the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington with Swick.
Australia’s champion sprinter and crowd favourite Apache Cat will make a Spring Racing Carnival cameo appearance in Saturday’s Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington.
