QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes
Group 1, Ascot 14:00
£600,000 added,
3yo plus,
6f, Class 1   
Saturday 20th October 2018

FormRatings

1 Sands of Mali 28/1
2 Harry Angel 4/1
3 Donjuan Triumphant 16/1
14 ran Distances: 1l, 1¼l, ½l
Time: 1m 14.21s (slow by 1.81s)

Sands Of Mali makes all and holds off Harry Angel

Sands Of Mali
© Racehorse Photos
Sands Of Mali
 
Sands Of Mali pulled off a 28/1 shock in today's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint under jockey Paul Hanagan.
 
The three-year-old colt was in good form earlier this summer, and was beaten just half a length in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but his form since then had been below that level.
 
Today he rediscovered his mojo, making all to beat Harry Angel and Donjuan Triumphant by a length and one and a quarter lengths.
 
Winning trainer Yorkshire-based Richard Fahey said: "It's been very frustrating - he just got nailed at the Royal Meeting and things went pear-shaped after that. He's always worked like a nice horse at home, and today he's proven that he is. He's had a couple of goes [at Group One races] and today it's come good so I'm delighted.
 
"I don't know why he's been beaten lately - maybe he just hurt himself a little bit on the quicker ground at Royal Ascot, and I felt he ran okay at Haydock last time out, but today was where we thought he should be. What they should be and what they actually do are quite different sometimes.

"It's great for the owners, Cool Silk [Partnership], and for Matt Coleman [bloodstock agent] who buys all their horses. He bought this one at the Ascot breeze-up sale, and my man [agent] was standing nearby [before the horse went into the sales ring]. Matt said, 'We want this horse, and if we get him he's coming to you anyway,' so it's all worked out. It's a good result for a small trainer up the north!"

Harry Angel
© Racehorse Photos
Harry Angel
 
Dual Group One winner Harry Angel, owned by Godolphin, finished a length behind winner Sands Of Mali It was Harry Angel's sixth run at Ascot without managing to win.
 
Trainer Clive Cox said: "He's run an absolute blinder and I'm very pleased with him. He's shown his true level today. It's been a frustrating year because he's been a better horse at home all year, so to bring him here and show everyone else what we've been seeing - that he's a proper, proper Group One horse - I'm very proud of the performance. It's good to sign the season off with him like this. He's a horse who has a change of gear as well, but fair play to Richard [Fahey] - it's his day to day and it is well deserved."
 
Asked whether he was worried when Harry Angel was at first reluctant to enter the stalls, Cox said: "There's always a moment of worry with Harry - he knows what's coming the other side and he likes to get on with it, that's it. But he's equipped himself in the best possible way and I will be looking forward to seeing his stock when he goes to stud."
 
Jockey Adam Kirby said: "Of course I'm proud of him - he's a superstar, isn't he? It's a shame to get beat but nice to end things on a high. He's been a great horse. The ground here just blunts his gear-change, so I feel a bit sorry for him. 
 
"Harry Angel probably gets a little bit claustrophobic in the stalls, but one thing I will say is well done to Clive Cox and all involved with the horse. They have always done a remarkable job with him - not only do you have to train a champion but you also have to train his mind as well.

"It has not been an easy run for Clive. He is a great guy to deal with and fair play to him. I am just a little gutted that the horse was beaten - I think he would have taken them apart if the ground was livelier. It was a bit of a bog out there and the last furlong is exceptionally slow.
 
"But he owes us nothing; he's been a fantastic sprinter and a pleasure to deal with."

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Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 2)
£600,000 added, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Soft

Pos Dr D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (10) Sands Of Mali (FR) 28/1 P Hanagan
9-1
R A Fahey 3
2nd (13) 1 Harry Angel (IRE) 4/1 A Kirby
9-2
C G Cox 4
3rd (7) Donjuan Triumphant (IRE) 16/1 James Doyle
9-2
A M Balding 5
4th (14) ½ Brando 13/2 J P Spencer
9-2
K A Ryan 6
5th (6) ½ Sir Dancealot (IRE) 25/1 G Mosse
9-2
D R C Elsworth 4
6th (9) nk Projection 20/1 Kieran Shoemark
9-2
R Charlton 5
7th (8) The Tin Man 3/1f Oisin Murphy
9-2
J R Fanshawe 6
8th (1) Tasleet 8/1 Jim Crowley
9-2
W J Haggas 5
9th (11) ½ Limato (IRE) 12/1 Harry Bentley
9-2
H Candy 6
10th (3) hd Son Of Rest 25/1 C D Hayes
9-2
J A Stack 4
11th (5) Librisa Breeze 11/2 R Winston
9-2
D K Ivory 6
12th (2) Speak In Colours 33/1 D O'Brien
9-1
Joseph P O'Brien 3
13th (4) 8 Dream Of Dreams (IRE) 20/1 R L Moore
9-2
Sir Michael Stoute 4
14th (12) 9 Bacchus 33/1 W Buick
9-2
B J Meehan 4

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