Minzaal makes light work of rivals for Sprint Cup glory at Haydock

Minzaal claimed the first Group One victory of his career as he demolished his rivals in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Trained by Owen Burrows and ridden by Jim Crowley, the four-year-old had been placed at the highest level on multiple occasions but had yet to get his head in front. However, he corrected that statistic with an effortless performance, sitting in behind the early pacesetters before laying down his challenge entering the last of the six furlongs.

When Crowley gave the signal, the 7-2 shot hit top gear and he powered away to win by three and three-quarter lengths from last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana. Rohaan kept on for third but 3-1 favourite Naval Crown dropped away in the closing stages having held every chance.

Minzaal chased home subsequent Nunthorpe Stakes winner Highfield Princess on his most recent run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and Burrows was thrilled to see the Mehmas colt get the verdict this time. The trainer, who was enjoying his second Group One success of the year following Hukum’s Coronation Cup win, said: “All credit to the team back home, they’ve been working hard and to get the job done is amazing.

“It’s been a big year for me, you are soon forgotten in this game and I’ve been trying to attract outside owners, we don’t have a lot of horses to run but a lot of two-year-olds. These big winners on a Saturday in Group Ones are hard to come by. This lad deserved one, he was knocking on the door at two, had an injury at three and was still Group One placed at Ascot and he ran a big race in France last time.” Minzaal is the 5-2 favourite with both Paddy Power and Coral for next month’s Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot and Burrows confirmed he will head there.

Earlier, Kevin