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#1
08-28-2006, 05:24 PM
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The Betfred Sprint Cup (updates, etc)
Iffraaj to run this weekend in one or the other?
Be still my heart.  From RP... Iffraaj and Reverence favourites for Sprint by Rodney Masters IFFRAAJ and Reverence were on Monday installed 7-2 joint-favourites with the sponsors for the Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday, although the former will only take his chance if the ground is not too testing. Haydock’s clerk of the course, Kirkland Tellwright, said on Monday that showers were forecast throughout the week and, if the weather experts had read their charts accurately, the going will ride good to soft for the £300,000 contest. “There’ll be plenty of showers about, and if one misses us the next will more than likely hit us,” said Tellwright. “At this stage, I’d anticipate the ground will be good to soft.” Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford said good to soft would not be ideal for comprehensive Lennox Stakes winner Iffraaj, but may just about be tolerable. “We’re going to have to keep a close eye on the ground at Haydock this week and make sure it’s within acceptable limits,” Crisford said. “Iffraaj is also in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday, but our original plan was not to step himup to a mile until he went to the Breeders’ Cup, with a run over seven furlongs somewhere beforehand. “Under the circumstances, we favour Haydock, but the ground mustn’t be too testing and the weather charts I’ve seen for the Manchester area aren’t encouraging.” However, the forecast will cheer Eric Alston, whose easy ground specialist Reverence aims to tack on another Group 1 to his gains in last week’s Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Alston said: “He's in terrific order - he was bucking andkicking the morning after York. We live not 20 miles from Haydock and we had a lot of rain last night, so the ground doesn't look as if it is going to be a problem.” Hughie Morrison’s Baltic King, a Listed winner at Beverley on Sunday but yet to scoreafter 11 attempts at Group level, is a 12-1 chance. Tim Easterby’s Somnus, winner of the corresponding event in 2003, is 16-1. Easterby has been pleased with Somnus’s progress of late and said: “If it's heavy ground on Saturday he'll run well but I don't know who'll ride him.” Easterby has a second possible representative in Fayr Jag (33-1). In all, there were 20 horses confirmed at the five-day stage. Michael Halford intends to watch the weather before sending Miss Sally from the Curragh. Hesaid: “We left her in as the ground over there is currently good to soft I believe. We’ll see what the week brings weather wise and all that but if she worked well and the ground goes soft there is every chance she’ll travel as she is best with a good cut.” Aidan O’Brien declared Tipperary maiden winner Chief Crazy Horse, but said: “We left him in and will decide later in the week but it just might be a step forward too soon for him.” 
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#2
08-29-2006, 08:22 PM
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From The Times.....
Godolphin monitor ground conditions for Iffraaj By Alan Lee, Racing Correspondent BUOYED by uplifting results on both sides of the Atlantic, Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin team is preparing to chase group one success in England and France this weekend. Iffraaj will contest the Betfred Sprint Cup on Saturday, so long as conditions at Haydock permit, and Librettist is an intended runner in the Prix du Moulin on Sunday. Iffraaj was pushed out from 9-4 to 4-1 for the Sprint Cup by the race sponsor yesterday as support strengthened for the soft-ground specialists, notably Reverence. However, Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, insisted that the race remains a target for the impressive winner of Goodwood’s Betfair Cup. “We’re keen to get another run into him as he prepares for the Breeders’ Cup Mile and, if the ground isn’t desperate, we’ll probably take our chance,” he said. “All his best form is on fast ground but we’re not going to get that wherever we go. He’s also in the Moulin but the chances are it will be just as bad in France. “We will almost certainly declare him for Haydock on Thursday and take it all the way to the line. If it becomes hopeless and we have to think again, we could send him over to America for a race.” Crisford was in Saratoga over the weekend to witness victories for Ashkal Way and Discreet Cat. The latter will reappear at Belmont on October 1 and is a long-term prospect for the Dubai World Cup, won this year by Electrocutionist. It is a barometer of Godolphin’s vexing summer that Electrocutionist has not won since, finishing second at both Royal Ascot and in the King George, where he aggravated a splint injury. “It’s taken time to get right and he’s not yet back in full training but we still hope to get him to the Champion Stakes at Newmarket,” Crisford said. Librettist, responsible for breaking Godolphin’s group one duck for the year in the Prix Jacques le Marois, is set to return to France for Sunday’s mile race at Longchamp. Crisford said: “He came out of Deauville very well and we’re serious about running him this week.” He warns, however, that at least 75 per cent of the operation’s 85 juveniles will not run this season. “It wouldn’t have been at all prudent to chase them along at a time when the yard was not well. It could have wiped us out for the whole of next year as well.” Godolphin’s international campaign, of course, extends well into Britain’s core jumping season, devotees of which are still trying to absorb the sudden death of David Nicholson. The former champion trainer grew up a short walk from Cheltenham racecourse, which yesterday confirmed it will create a permanent memorial to him. Edward Gillespie, the managing director, explained: “To me, David was for many years the captain of British National Hunt racing and we’ll find the most appropriate way to celebrate that.” Cheltenham also announced that its prize-money will rise 10 per cent this season, that the Gold Cup crowd will be capped at 65,000 and that its first October meeting will commemorate the career of Martin Pipe.
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#3
08-30-2006, 03:36 AM
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From The Telegraph.....
Grounds for concern over Sprint Cup hope Iffraaj By HOTSPUR (J A McGrath) Iffraaj has been an alarming drifter in ante-post betting on Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, but connections have warned that the colt has not been ruled out and that a late decision on his participation can be expected. advertisementAll Iffraaj's best form has been on fast ground, and with the forecast for heavy showers, many punters (and possibly a few odds compilers) took the initiative yesterday and shortened Amadeus Wolf to 7-2 (from 6-1), while the Godolphin colt eased in betting to 4-1 (from 9-4). Others clipped were veteran Quito and Steenberg, into 14-1 (from 25-1). "We want to run Iffraaj this weekend, but the ground must be suitable," said Simon Crisford, racing manager to Godolphin. "He is also in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday, but the ground there will probably be the same as here. The horse is in cracking form after his win at Goodwood, and the time is right for him to have another race. This weekend would fit in perfectly to his programme in the build-up to the Breeders' Cup Mile," he added. Then Crisford threw in what he described as "Plan C," an early trip to Kentucky for the Keeneland Mile on Oct 7. "That is still a long way off - and this horse wants a run now - but it is certainly another option. "We will walk the course on Saturday morning before taking the final decision. It is pretty inconvenient for us, and everybody else, but if we got there and found it was 'good to soft' then he would run," he said. This confusion will hardly stimulate the ante-post market, but it is understandable that connections want to find the best ground for a horse they expect to make an impact in the Mile at the Breeders' Cup Meeting at Churchill Downs in November.
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#4
08-30-2006, 11:37 AM
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Jamie Spencer on Balthazaar's Gift.....
Soldier's Tale unlikely.
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#5
08-30-2006, 02:35 PM
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ST ruled out.
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#6
08-31-2006, 11:39 AM
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From Racing Post..... off to France for Iffraaj.
Iffraaj not among 11 in Sprint Cup by Thomas Deane IFFRAAJ is an eyecatching absentee from Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, in which Reverence (pic) heads a total of 11 declarations. Eric Alston's progressive five-year-old was an impressive winner of the Nunthorpe at York last week and he will bid to land his second Group 1 success in this weekend's 6f test. The Kevin Ryan-trained Amadeus Wolf chased home Alston's charge on the Knavesmire and he is set to renew rivalry along with Red Clubs and Steenberg, who finished fifth and seventh respectively. Excusez Moi comes into the race in goodform having landed the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last time out, while David Chapman's evergreen Quito will bid to gain his 20th career success in the £300,000 attraction. Kodiac, Philharmonic and Balthazaar's Gift also take their chance, along with TimEasterby's Somnus, who lifted this prize back in 2003. The Michael Halford-trained Miss Sally will be Ireland's sole representative after Aidan O'Brien chose not to declare Chief Crazy Horse. Connections of Miss Sally are "hopeful of a big run" from the filly as she bids for a first win at the highest level. She will be going into the race on the back of a sixth-place finish behind Moss Vale in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month on an unsuitably fast surface. With conditions at Haydock set to be testing, she will have conditions more to her liking at the weekend. "She'll love the ground," said Halford. "We've had this race in mind for her all season and I just hope the ground brings out the best in her. "She's in good form and she does handle that ground particularly well. "Hopefully they'll go fast and we've always thought testing ground or soft ground in a 6f race were her ideal conditions." Recalling her last start, he said: "It was a muddling race at the Curragh. They didn't go very fast and she was handy and then they came flying by her and she was staying back at them again on ground too quick for her. "She's better than that. "She's in good heart now. We are delighted with her and she's checked out good and she's travelling over tonight. "She's a big, strong filly and it's the first time she's travelled away from home but hopefully she'll be OK. "We are hopeful of a big run from her." Reverence has been promoted to 9-4 favourite with Coral following the defection of Iffraaj. The firm rate Amadeus Wolf a 100-30 chance and have Quito next in their market at 15-2.
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#8
08-31-2006, 01:09 PM
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Quote:
Good luck to him... I know you love that boy.  * * * Iffraaj vs Irridescence in the Prix du Moulin..... anyone know the rest of the field? Thanks!
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#9
08-31-2006, 02:05 PM
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won the same day Reverence won, but was eased down last time as his saddle slipped when racing over 5f.. it'll be his 106th start, he hasnt won at group level yet, but run some great races in defeat and if he won this, id be estatic!
__________________
 #Grand
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#10
08-31-2006, 05:07 PM
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Quote:
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#11
08-31-2006, 10:05 PM
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I started following Amadeus Wolf at Ascot and he gave me a little run there but couldn't handle Les Arcs. although he's winless on the year i think his class could get him this one, especially since Reverence may not be as strong at 6F.
He's winless on the year but look at his finishes for 2006, 7th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd. Next stop, winners circle? I think so.
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#12
09-01-2006, 04:52 AM
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Saturday September 2 2006
Haydock 14:15 Betfred Sprint Cup (group 1) £221460.00 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1, £170340.00 penalty 11 runners Going: Soft, Heavy in places No. Form Horse Age Wt Trainer Jockey OR NagMe Bet 1 (5) 640241 Excusez Moi (USA) 14 4 9-3 C E Brittain K McEvoy 104 2 (11) 160324 Kodiac 27 5 9-3 b J L Dunlop L Dettori 109 3 (6) 227224 Philharmonic 63 5 9-3 R A Fahey P Hanagan 104 4 (3) 106018 Quito (IRE) 6 9 9-3 b D W Chapman R Winston 112 5 (10) 141051 Reverence 9 5 9-3 E J Alston K Darley 116 6 (1) 5-35104 Somnus 9 6 9-3 T D Easterby J F Egan 105 7 (8) 59-5517 Steenberg (IRE) 9 7 9-3 M H Tompkins T P Queally 112 8 (4) 1-75432 Amadeus Wolf 9 3 9-1 K A Ryan N Callan 115 9 (7) 1-04240 Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) 27 3 9-1 T R George J P Spencer 115 10 (9) 106025 Red Clubs (IRE) 9 3 9-1 B W Hills M Hills 110 11 (2) 11-1346 Miss Sally (IRE) 20 4 9-0 t M Halford J Murtagh 107 * * * Reverence to win (..... and Red Clubs wins the beauty contest). Come home safe, everyone.
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#14
09-02-2006, 12:01 PM
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Between the three of us, we had the tri.
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Linear Mode
