Hamdan- owned racing duo in Sprint Cup mix
Intibaah and Aljamaaheer among strong field for Haydock feature this weekend
Intibaah must handle the huge step up in class if he hopes to make an impression in the Betfred Sprint Cup, the highlight of Haydock Park’s most prestigious meeting of the season, on Saturday.
Trained by Manton- based Brian Meehan, the four- yearold figures among a strong field of 25 horses still in the mix, including formidable Group 1 scorers Sole Power and Gordon Lord Byron.
A Shadwell home bred by Elnadim, Intibaah is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, who is also likely to be represented by Aljamaaheer in the six furlong contest. Shaikh Hamdan last won the prestigious sprint in 1990 with Dayjur.
However, ground conditions at Haydock are likely to determine the final field with several connections weighing their options ahead of the start of the three- day festival that starts today.
Gregorian is one of them with its trainer not committing the five- year- old who is owned by Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Trainer Roger Varian has said that Aljamaaheer “may miss” the race and “wait for the Park Stakes at Doncaster” instead.
Aljamaaheer notched his biggest win when landing the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot last season but could only finish
Trainer Roger Varian has said that Aljamaaheer “may miss” the race and “wait for the Park Stakes at Doncaster” instead.
third in his subsequent outings in the 2014 Group 3 Abernant Stakes and Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Shaikh Hamdan’s horses have been in tremendous form this season securing 10 Group wins and three at the highest level including big- race wins by Taghrooda in the Epsom Oaks ( G1) and King George ( G1) and Mukhadram in the Eclipse Stakes ( G1).
Trainer Eddie Lynam has also stressed that Sole Power, unbeaten in his last three starts including the Nunthorpe Stakes ( G1) at York, will only take his chances if the ground is good.
The going at the Merseyside track is currently good to soft on the straight, but the ground is expected to dry out with no showers forecast over the next couple of days.
Sole Power is vying for favouritism alongside Gordon Lord Byron who is bidding to win the race for a second successive year having defeated Slade Power 12 months ago.
William Buick is being lined up to take the ride on Gordon Lord Byron and trainer Tom Hogan said in the Liverpool Echo: “Basically the jockey for Saturday is William Buick, but that’s presuming Gregorian won’t run. Otherwise there’s plenty of jockeys there who have ridden him before.
“Joseph O’Brien, Ryan Moore and Wayne Lordan have all ridden him so there’s some top- class jockeys that know the horse well.”