Markab records his first Group 1 victory in a record-breaking Sprint Cup

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

Markab bolts to Sprint Cup glory in record time

Report: Haydock, Saturday

Betfred Sprint Cup (Group 1) 6f, inner, 3yo+

MARKAB smashed the course record en route to posting a Group 1 win for the Henry Candy and Pat Cosgrave team in a messy running of the Haydock sprint.

Opinion was split between the jockeys over the best position on the quick ground, and Cosgrave and Markab led the six runners who kept to the stands’ side, while the Colm O’Donoghue-ridden 11-8 favourite Starspangledbanner led the seven on the far side.

Despite hanging across the track in the closing stages, Markab still proved to be too good for his rivals with the 12-1 chance coming home clear of Lady Of The Desert (9-1) and Genki (20-1) in a time of 1min 9.4secs, a shade over half a second quicker than the previous. Starspangledbanner finished a disappointing fifth.

The winner had posted a rare below-par effort when fifth in a Group 3 at Newbury last time having beaten all bar Equiano in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot the time before and Cosgrave was delighted to see him get his head in front at the highest level.

He said: "Good, that makes up for Ascot. He's a very good horse, he always was. After he won at Thirsk [in April] I said this is a Group 1 horse and he needs to be running in one."

Pleased: trainer Henry Candy

  PICTURE: Martin Lynch  

Candy was equally pleased and was already looking ahead to future targets. He said: "Isn't he the most gorgeous beast? He's magnificent. He's just blissfully happy as he spends every day out in a paddock and is just a very happy horse. He seems to be getting better and if I'm absolutely happy with him I might consider a go at the Abbaye [Longchamp, October 3].

"I blame myself for running him too quickly at Newbury. That was entirely my fault and we've given him a nice break since.
He'd frighten the life out of you at home because he always looks as big as a bull. But he's remarkably clean winded and is a good worker."

Genki's effort caught the eye of the layers, and he is now 10-1 (from 16) with the sponsors William Hill for next Saturday's Ayr Gold Cup.