Adaay To Look Forward To In Haydock For Haggas

A glance at Saturday’s Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock shows a strong-looking renewal in which the older sprinters will need to be at their very best in dealing with a host of improving 3yo’s on the up.

Big Day For Adaay
One such runner is William Haggas’ Adaay (6/1) who earned his place at the top end of the market with a career best Group 2 win at Newbury last month (7f, good to soft). Clearly at home in the mud that day, this colt shouldn’t get the fast ground which seemed against him when beaten by 6l at Royal Ascot in June.

Good ground will be fine – the surface he faced when landing a Group 2 over C&D in May.

Stewards’ Winner Up In Class
But, Adaay is just one of many with a similar profile, as can be seen with Charles Hills’ Magical Memory (10/1), winner of the competitive Stewards’ Cup handicap at Goodwood last month (6f, good to firm). This 3yo looked a comfortable winner that day, in the process earning him a crack against the top sprinters on Saturday. An official rating of 108 also suggests Magical Memory may not be out of his depth based on past renewals of this sprint…

Sprint Cup Trends
Of the last 10 winners…
9 were officially rated 109 or higher
9 made the top six last time out
8 returned 12/1 or shorter
8 were 3 or 5yo’s – 4yo’s were 1-45
8 arrived via a Group race

Respect 3yo’s
With 3yo’s also holding such a good long-term record in this, Tim Easterby’s Mattmu (8/1) has to enter calculations having been a 4l third in the Nunthorpe at York last month (5f, good to soft). A Group 2 winner in France, he enjoys cut in the ground and will be feared if any rain arrives.

John Gosden’s Waady (12/1) is also progressive having impressed in landing a Group 3 at Sandown last time. He has been unplaced in both outings over 6f, though, including when around 5l behind Adaay at Newbury in May.

Can Older Runners Hit Back?
As for the older runners, then Michael Appleby’s 4yo, Danzeno (7/1), has been thereabouts in the summer’s big sprints, including when fifth in the July Cup. Danzeno does struggle to win, though, and both Eastern Impact (20/1) and Sole Power (16/1) were ahead of him at Newmarket.

Gordon Lord Byron (8/1) is another who will appreciate any rain, and arrives in terrific form following three placed efforts in Group sprints.

Recommended Bets
With those in the top half of the betting, along with 3-5yo’s, proving best in this sprint down the years, the evidence points to Adaay running a big race. The likely strong pace will suit his late tactics and William Haggas’ runners continue in fine form.

*Prices correct at time of publication