There is just over a week to go until Haydock Park's premier race of the Flat season takes place, the £225,000 Group One William Hill Sprint Cup.
This famous six-furlong contest, run on Saturday, September 3, often plays a pivotal role in determining the sprint champion of Europe and 2005 should prove to be equally informative with the likes of La Cucaracha, heroine of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York last time out, 2003 victor and last year's runner-up Somnus, Jeremy Noseda's improving performer Soldier's Tale, July Cup third Etlaala, Goodricke, second in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time out and Stewards' Cup winner Gift Horse still engaged. In addition, the Jeremy Noseda-trained Proclamation, triumphant in the Group One Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last time out, is expected to be supplemented at a cost of £15,000 for the race at the five-day stage.
David Hood, Head of Public Relations for William Hill, commented: "So far, there has been good money for Goodricke, who is now 4/1 after opening at 8/1 and also for Gift Horse, who was well supported after winning the Stewards' Cup and is now 8/1, having been 25/1 when betting opened.
"The race has been thrown open by the fact that we have had to insert Proclamation into the betting. We are excited by the fact that Proclamation, a genuine Group One performer, is likely to drop back in trip and take on specialist sprinters. He has the chance to prove himself as a really versatile, top-class performer and I'm very much looking forward to the William Hill Sprint Cup."
A strong supporting card on Saturday, September 3, also features the £75,000 williamhill.co.uk Old Borough Cup, a heritage handicap over a mile and three quarters, landed by Defining in 2004. Last year's runner-up, Sergeant Cecil, has gone to win this season's two most valuable staying handicaps - the Northumberland Plate and Ebor Handicap.
Also featuring on the seven-race programme is the £35,000 Listed William Hill Superior Mile. This race was run for the first time in 2004 and went to Godolphin's With Reason.
Haydock Park also races on Friday, September 2, when there is a six-race card.
This media information pack contains a detailed history of the William Hill Sprint Cup, a roll of honour from its inception in 1966 and a full order of running for both days of the meeting.
For further information, please contact Adam Waterworth, Haydock Park's Managing Director, on 01942 725963, or visit www.haydock-park.co.uk
HISTORY OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPRINT CUP
The William Hill Sprint Cup is the highlight of the Flat season at Haydock Park and the Group One sprint over six furlongs is run for the 39th time at the North-West track on Saturday, September 3.
The race regularly attracts the very best horses from across Europe and is usually a major factor in deciding each year's champion sprinter.
In its early days, the Sprint Cup was held on the final day of the Flat turf season in early November and was sponsored by the Sangster family's Vernons Pools company.
The inaugural running was held on November 5, 1966, and fell to Be Friendly, trained in Epsom by Cyril Mitchell and owned by the BBC's "Voice of Racing" - Peter O'Sullevan. Be Friendly was victorious once again in 1967 and remains the only dual victor to date. He was cruelly denied a chance to score three times by fog in 1968.
David Robinson was one of the leading owners of the 1960s and he enjoyed two victories with Tudor Music (1969) and Green God (1971). Both horses were trained by Newmarket-based Michael Jarvis who also triumphed with Petong in 1984.
Legendary Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien sent out the first overseas-trained winner in 1972 in the shape of Abergwaun, owned by Charles St George and ridden by Lester Piggott, while in 1975 the filly Lianga, trained in France by Argentinian Angel Penna, become the first Gallic scorer, coming home in the famous blue silks of Daniel Wildenstein silks. Indeed, Lianga was the first ever French-trained runner at Haydock Park.
The Sprint Cup was switched from the final day of the season to the first Saturday in September in 1979 when Double Form, trained by Fulke Johnson Houghton. was successful. Double Form became the first horse to win three of Europe's premier sprints - the King's Stand Stakes at Ascot, the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp, France, and the Sprint Cup - all in the same season.
Moorestyle in 1980 was another outstanding Sprint Cup winner - subsequently being crowned Horse of the Year - the first sprinter to achieve this accolade since the award was inaugurated in 1965.
Flying filly Habibti, trained by John Dunlop and ridden by Willie Carson, was another impressive winner in 1983 - also being named as Horse of the Year.
Carson was also successful on Boldboy (1977) and Dayjur (1990), making him one of the jockeys who have enjoyed three successes in the Sprint Cup - the others are Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery.
Orojoya in 1985 rewarded Robert Sangster, also a Haydock Park steward, for his sponsorship of the contest when just prevailing under New Zealand-born Brent Thomson by a short-head from Primo Dominie.
A unique feature of the Sprint Cup had been that it was held on a round course. However, a straight six-furlong course was opened at Haydock Park in 1986 and this has been used ever since.
Michael Stoute and Walter Swinburn teamed up for success in two consecutive runnings, first with Green Desert (1986) and then Ajdal (1987).
Dowsing, owned by Khalid Abdulla, trained by Jeremy Tree and ridden by Pat Eddery, became the first winner of the Sprint Cup when it was upgraded to Group One status in 1988. A year later the same owner, trainer and jockey teamed up for success again with Danehill, who went on to terrific success as a stallion both in Europe and Australasia.
Dayjur was another outstanding winner in 1990 and went on to be crowned European Champion Sprinter that season. After his Haydock success, he was unlucky to be narrowly defeated in the Breeders' Cup Sprint on dirt at Belmont Park, USA, after jumping a shadow in the closing stages.
Polar Falcon gave French trainer John Hammond the first of his three successes in 1991 - Hammond enjoyed further victories with Cherokee Rose in 1995 and Nuclear Debate in 2001.
Sheikh Albadou in 1992 improved on Dayjur's effort when he landed both the Sprint Cup and the Breeders' Cup Sprint, scoring at Churchill Downs.
One of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's syndicates enjoyed a Group One win in 1998 in the Haydock race, sponmsored for the first time by Stanley Leisure, with Tamarisk, trained by Roger Charlton, with the Maktoum family's Godolphin operation succeeding with Diktat in 1999.
In addition to John Hammond, three other trainers have enjoyed multiple success in the William Hill Sprint Cup in recent years.
John Dunlop scored with Lavinia Fontana (1995) and Invincible Spirit (2002), Yorkshireman Tim Easterby triumphed with Pipalong (2000) and Somnus (2003), while Roger Charlton has also enjoyed a brace of victories with Tamarisk (1998) and Tante Rose (2004).
Dunlop has won a total of four William Hill Sprint Cups - the Arundel handler's other winners were Runnett (1981) and Habibti - and he is the race's most successful trainer.
Last year's race saw Somnus come very close to becoming the first dual winner since Be Friendly, with the tough gelding only finding Tante Rose a short-head too strong in a thrilling finish.
William Hill step in to back the Group One contest for the first time in 2005, following the company's acquisition earlier this year of former sponsor Stanley Leisure's betting shops. The William Hill Sprint Cup is worth £225,000.
THE WILLIAM HILL SPRINT CUP ROLL OF HONOUR
YEAR HORSE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY SP AGE/WT RAN TIME/GRND
2004 TANTE ROSE Bjorn Nielsen Roger Charlton Richard Hills 10/1 4-8-11 19 1m 11.58s (Good)
2003 SOMNUS Legard, Sidebottom & Sykes Tim Easterby Ted Durcan 12/1 3-8-12 10 1m 13.49s (Gd/Sft)
2002 INVINCIBLE SPIRIT Prince A A Faisal John Dunlop John Carroll 25/1 5-9-00 14 1m 12.44s (Gd/Fm)
2001 NUCLEAR DEBATE Bob Chester John Hammond FR Gerald Mosse 11/2 6-9-00 12 1m 15.39s (Heavy)
2000 PIPALONG Tom Bennett Tim Easterby Kevin Darley 3/1 4-8-11 13 1m 15.49s (Heavy)
1999 DIKTAT Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori 13/8F 4-9-00 16 1m 11.04s (Gd/Fm)
1998 TAMARISK Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Roger Charlton Tim Sprake 13/2 3-8-12 13 1m 10.78s (Good)
1997 ROYAL APPLAUSE Maktoum Al Maktoum Barry Hills Michael Hills 15/8F 4-9-00 9 1m 14.46s (Gd/Sft)
1996 IKTAMAL Maktoum Al Maktoum Ed Dunlop Willie Ryan 10/1 4-9-00 11 1m 09.92s (Gd/Fm)
1995 CHEROKEE ROSE Sheikh Mohammed John Hammond FR Cash Asmussen 5/1 4-8-11 6 1m 13.74s (Good)
1994 LAVINIA FONTANA Cyril Humphries John Dunlop Jason Weaver 11/2 5-8-09 8 1m 11.42s (Good)
1993 WOLFHOUND Sheikh Mohammed John Gosden Michael Roberts 7/2 4-9-09 7 1m 10.98s (Gd/Fm)
1992 SHEIKH ALBADOU Hilal Salem Alex Scott Bruce Raymond 9/4JF 4-9-09 8 1m 14.17s (Soft)
1991 POLAR FALCON David Thompson John Hammond FR Cash Asmussen 13/2 4-9-09 6 1m 11.23s (Gd/Fm)
1990 DAYJUR Hamdan Al Maktoum Dick Hern Willie Carson 1/2F 3-9-06 9 1m 12.50s (Good)
1989 DANEHILL Khalid Abdulla Jeremy Tree Pat Eddery 3/1 3-9-05 9 1m 12.75s (Gd/Sft)
1988 DOWSING Khalid Abdulla Jeremy Tree Pat Eddery 15/2 4-9-02 10 1m 17.24s (Heavy)
1987 AJDAL Sheikh Mohammed Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 8/11F 3-9-00 8 1m 14.87s (Good)
1986 GREEN DESERT Maktoum Al Maktoum Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn 5/4F 3-8-12 8 1m 14.82s (Good)
1985 OROJOYA Robert Sangster Jeremy Hindley Brent Thomson 11/1 3-8-12 8 1m 16.24s (Soft)
1984 PETONG Tom Warner Michael Jarvis Bruce Raymond 11/1 4-9-03 9 1m 13.17s (Firm)
1983 HABIBTI M Mutawa John Dunlop Willie Carson 8/13F 3-8-09 6 1m 15.31s (Good)
1982 INDIAN KING J Levy Guy Harwood Greville Starkey 3/1 4-9-03 9 1m 12.51s (Godd)
1981 RUNNETT Miss V Evans John Dunlop Bruce Raymond 6/1 4-9-03 6 1m 14.14s (Gd/Fm)
1980 MOORESTYLE Moores Funishings Ltd Robert Armstrong Lester Piggott 8/13F 3-8-12 8 1m 14.81s (Gd/Sft)
1979 DOUBLE FORM Baroness H Thyssen Fulke Johnson Houghton Geoff Lewis 11/4 4-9-08 8 1m 12.72s (Good)
1978 ABSALOM Mrs C Alington Ryan Jarvis Taffy Thomas 20/1 3-9-06 14 1m 17.99s (Yldng)
1977 BOLDBOY Lady Beaverbrook Dick Hern Willie Carson EvensF 7-9-08 7 1m 19.21s (Soft)
1976 RECORD TOKEN Sir H Ingham Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery 3/1F 4-9-08 8 1m 19.50s (Soft)
1975 LIANGA Daniel Wildenstein Angel Penna FR Yves Saint-Martin 2/1F 4-9-07 7 1m 18.61s (Soft)
1974 PRINCELY SON Wilfred Sherman Ken Cundell Johnny Seagrave 8/1 5-9-10 9 1m 21.75s (Heavy)
1973 THE BLUES G van der Ploeg Bill Marshall Richard Marshall 10/1 2-8-00 8 1m 17.10s (Soft)
1972 ABERGWAUN Charles St George Vincent O'Brien IRE Lester Piggott 11/10F 4-9-07 10 1m 16.16s (Soft)
1971 GREEN GOD David Robinson Michael Jarvis Lester Piggott 7/4F 3-9-06 7 1m 15.90s (Good)
1970 GOLDEN ORANGE Lady Clifden Ken Cundell Jimmy Lindley 10/1 4-9-10 5 1m 15.60s (Soft)
1969 TUDOR MUSIC David Robinson Michael Jarvis Frankie Durr 11/4F 3-9-04 11 1m 14.80s (Good)
1968 Meeting Abandoned
1967 BE FRIENDLY Peter O'Sullevan Cyril Mitchell Scobie Breasley 2/1F 3-9-04 9 1m 18.00s (Soft)
1966 BE FRIENDLY Peter O'Sullevan Cyril Mitchell Colin Williams 15/2 2-8-00 15 1m 16.40s (Dead)
Youngest Winners: Be Friendly (1966) and The Blues (1973) were both two-year-olds. The race is now restricted to three-year-olds and upwards.
Oldest Winners: Boldboy (1977) was seven when successful in 1977. In more recent times, Nuclear Debate (2001) was six.
Age: Overall, four-year-olds have the best record with 18 victories followed by three-year-olds with 13 wins. Three five-year-olds have won, with one win apiece for six and seven-year-olds.
Fastest Wiinning Time: Iktamal (1m 09.92s) in 1996. This is also the track record for six furlongs at Haydock.
Biggest Field: 19 in 2004.
Smallest Field: 5 in 1970.
Biggest-priced winner: Invicible Spirit (25/1) in 2002.
Shortest-priced winner: Dayjur (1/2) in 1990.
ORDER OF RUNNING
First Day - Friday 2nd September
Time Race Dist Conditions Prize Money
2.30pm European Breeders Fund Maiden 5f 2yo £6,000-added
* 1.15pm williamhillpoker.com Be Friendly Handicap 5f 3yo+, 0-100 £30,000-added
* 1.45pm williamhill.co.uk Old Borough Cup (Heritage Handicap) 1m 6f 3yo+, 0-105 £75,000 total prize fund
* 2.15pm William Hill Sprint Cup (Group One) 6f 3yo+ £225,000 total prize fund
2.45pm williamhillcasino.com E.B.F. Maiden 6f 2yo £6,500-added
3.20pm William Hill 0800 444 040 Nursery 1m 2yo £20,000-added
3.55pm William Hill Superior Mile (Listed Race) 1m 3yo+ £35,000 total prize fund
4.30pm William Hill/Stanleybet Children in Need Handicap 1m 2f abt 120yds 3yo £6,000-added
SATURDAY NIGHT RACING RETURNS TO DUNSTALL PARK
The popular Saturday evening race meetings resume at Dunstall Park on September 3, following the afternoon and midweek evening fixtures through the summer.
Dunstall Park, Britain's only floodlit racecourse, provides the best evenings racing in the country through the winter, especially for the packages which include entrance, three course dinner, racing and entertainment with live singer or band plus a disco following racing until midnight.
Saturday, September 3, is themed 'Abba Night' and features the popular tribute band 'Bootleg Abba' plus a lively disco and is open to restaurant diners following racing.
Marketing Manager Amanda Thomas said: "I believe our themed race nights are the best in the country and the increasing number of restaurant diners has proved the demand for the product. We cater for a range of musical tastes from Abba and The Beatles to Soul and Motown and of course Christmas Party Nights."
Reservations are required in advance for the restaurants, and for those travelling from outside the area, the onsite Holiday Inn hotel provides the perfect place to wind down after all the excitement - but please book early as they are often oversubscribed.
The first race is due off at 7.00 p.m. and gates open at 5.00 p.m.
For restaurant reservations and further information telephone: 0870 220 0140.
JOCKEY CLUB STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF THREATS AND INTIMIDATION
Paul Struthers, Public Relations Manager for the Jockey Club said: "The Jockey Club is aware of, and deeply concerned about, the allegations of threats and intimidation towards stalls handlers, valets and jockeys. If anyone has been intimidated or threatened we would encourage them to come forward so that the allegations can be thoroughly investigated.
Given that those on the receiving end of such threats are understandably reluctant to report it to the Jockey Club, we would like to remind anyone subjected to such behaviour that they can report it, and remain anonymous, by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Any information given to Crimestoppers will be passed on to the Jockey Club to investigate whilst maintaining people's anonymity. Additionally, if reports are of a potentially criminal nature calls could even lead to investigations by the police."
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