Haydock takes centre stage again next month for the 2020 Sprint Cup, a Grade One contest over 6f. Oxted has been installed as the 4/1 favourite with the bookmakers to continue his 100% record this season.
It has been an excellent campaign for Oxted so far. Roger Teal’s runner made his seasonal reappearance in the Group Three Abernant Stakes at Haydock where he was successful by a length.
The four-year-old sprinter then won the biggest race of his career in the hotly contested Group One July Cup at Newmarket. As you can see from the horse racing results at the Suffolk course that day, the race included Golden Horde, Sceptical and Kahaadem, but it was Oxted who kept on strongly in the 6f race under the hands of Cieren Fallon to prevail.
This will be Oxted’s first appearance at Haydock. He has come out on top just twice in his opening six appearances on the track. A victory at the Merseyside course next month will elevate the son of Mayson to one of the best sprinters in Europe.
Connections may also be tempted by a trip to Paris in October with their talented horse if he claims the Sprint Cup. That race takes places over 5f so he would be required to step down in trip. The speed he has shown this season suggests that it should not be a problem for him.
Golden Horde Out to Reverse Form with Oxted
Golden Horde was just over a length behind Oxted in the July Cup and he is 6/1 to get the better of his rivals this time with victory at Haydock.
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The three-year-old won the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, beating the best sprinters of his age group. His trainer Clive Cox, who has a lot of talented sprinters throughout his career, will now be hoping he can score at the highest level against the older generation.
Golden Horde kept on well in the closing stages at Newmarket last time in what was a good run. He remains open to improvement so he is sure to have his supporters in his latest assignment.
Hello Youmzain Bidding to Become Only Second Repeat Winner in History
Only one horse in the history of the Sprint Cup has been able to win the contest in back-to-back years and that was Be Friendly in 1967. Last year’s winner Hello Youmzain has the opportunity to add his names to the history books next month.
Kevin Ryan’s runner made all in the race in 2019 to record his first victory in a Grade One contest. He was challenged by The Tin Man in the closing stages at Haydock but did enough to score by half-a-length.
Hello Youmzain has already had a big race win this year as he won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over 6f at Royal Ascot back in June. He was unable to follow that up in the July Cup as he has to settle for fifth place. The bookmakers make him 6/1 to bounce back from that outing in the Sprint Cup this year.
The race on 5th September is the latest leg of the British Sprint Series, with the finale scheduled for British Champions Day in October.
