Newbury Racecourse

Super Sprint Simply Spectacular

The Weatherbys Super Sprint lived up to its reputation as one of the most competitive races of the year, with Jargelle narrowly denying Infamous Angel and Senor Mirasol in a driving finish.

It was a first success in the race for Derby-winning trainer William Haggas and promising young jockey Liam Jones. Newmarket-based Haggas is eying a return to Newbury for his speedster, with the St. Hugh’s Stakes in a little over three weeks time already pencilled in as a possible target.

With just three lengths separating the first ten horses home, there were a few hard-luck stories, the most notable of which involved trainer Richard Hannon, who was bidding to win the £80,000 prize for an astonishing seventh time.

Having seen his Infamous Angel denied by a short-head, the replay showed that race favourite Penny’s Gift had endured a nightmare passage having been hemmed in for much of the final two furlongs before rattling home on the outside to occupy seventh position.

Elsewhere on a card that carried quality in abundance, local ‘would-be’ champion sprinter Corrybough’s bubble was emphatically burst by Intrepid Jack in the Group 3 Uplands Bloodstock Hackwood Stakes, earning himself a crack at a big money French prize in the coming weeks.

With a crowd topping 14,000, there were plenty of cheers for the legendary Henry Cecil, after his Passage Of Time had landed the Listed David Wilson Homes–sponsored Steventon Stakes.

The four-year-old was making a welcome return to form following a disappointing spring campaign and could carry the flag in top races for her iconic trainer in the coming months.

Sunday’s Dubai International Arabian Race Day drew a record 18,000 crowd, attracted by the offer of some amazing free draw prizes, and the richest programme of Arab racing in Europe.

No Risk Al Maury provided the equine highlight by taking his second straight Shadwell International Stakes – one of four winners for the day’s patron and principal sponsor, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the deputy ruler of Dubai.

Our ever-popular Ladies Day returns on Saturday, 16 August, when the card appropriately features the Bathwick Tyres Ladies Derby and the Geoffrey Freer and Hungerford Stakes, both of which enjoy Group race status.