Friday, March 25, 2005
SPORTS STARS TO CLASH AT NEWBURY?
The sporting worlds of football and rugby league could clash in the Ł135,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury in July as Blackburn Rovers’ Gary Flitcroft and Wigan Rugby League chairman Maurice Lindsay feature among the owners involved in the tremendous 273 entries for the race.
John Quinn trains the yet-to-be named Beckett filly for the Blackburn midfielder and, while he doesn’t expect her to run in the near future, is hopeful that she will be at least one of his seven entries to make the maximum 25-strong field for the very valuable five-furlong contest for two-year-olds at Newbury on Saturday, July 16.
“She is certainly a pacey filly and has a speed pedigree, being a half sister to Kathology who was a decent performer a couple of years back” said the Malton handler.
Lindsay, who is also involved in the family bookmaking business, has two entries in training with Tim Easterby. With ex-England international football star, Mick Channon, training 16 entrants, there is a real sporting theme running through this year’s event. And perhaps the Mark Johnston-trained Mr Rooney would also be an appropriate contender.
Previous winning owners and trainers of the race dominate the entries. Rod Millman, successful in 1997 with Lord Kintyre, is more than hopeful that Phantom Whisper, winner of the first two-year-old race of the season at Lingfield last Saturday (March 19), could be one of his representatives.
“Obviously, the Weatherbys Super Sprint is a long way ahead yet and we have several entered but Phantom Whisper is one that I would have in mind. It is a race that would be his main target if he is good enough on the day,”said the trainer.
Being cheaply bought at only 5,000 guineas from Tattersalls in October, the Makbul colt would be very lightly weighted, as an allowance of 1lb for every 2,500gns below the ceiling of 40,000gns paid at public auction is applicable.
Millman has another eight entered, while Super Sprint king Richard Hannon, who has sent out the winner of the race an incredible five times, has 32 entries and dual winner Tim Easterby has put in 24.
Lyric Fantasy (1992), Risky the following year, Miss Stamper (1996), Presto Vento (2002) and If Paradise (2003) are the Weatherbys Super Sprint winners Hannon has trained, while Easterby sent out Flanders in 1998 and Good Girl in 2001.
The aim of providing the smaller owner with a crack at a very valuable race certainly seems to stay long in the memory as connections of last year’s Brian Meehan-trained speedball Siena Gold try again with Abbielou.
Julie Wood, winning owner in 2003 with If Paradise, this year has the intriguingly named pair of Hot and Sensuous, while 2001 victor Peter Bourke (Good Girl) has both Gallery Girl and Goodtime Girl.
Owner John Fretwell, who went so close to landing the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy with Local Poet in 2003, has shown his intent with six youngsters in the mix at this stage.
The number of entries continues to rise and this year’s 273 is 10 above the 2004 level while there were 229 entries in 2003.
Weatherbys Commercial Director, Nick Craven, said today: “The aim of the Weatherbys Super Sprint has always been to provide the smaller owner with a shot at a big prize.
“This year’s list of entries is extremely encouraging and we envisage the race being as competitive as ever.”
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
|
