Sensational Shaquille could features amongst 39 entries in Champions Day Sprint

A thrilling showdown between Commonwealth Cup winner Shaquille and last year’s QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes winner Kinross is on the cards after both featured in the 39 entries for this year’s race.

Shaquille remains unbeaten at three in his meteoric rise to the top of the sprint division this year, climaxed by a last-to-first dash to glory in the latest QIPCO British Champions Series sprint race that was the Pertemps Network July Cup at Newmarket’s July course.

Trainer Julie Camacho said: “We have given him an easy couple of weeks since Newmarket – he has been on the go since December when we got him qualified for the all-weather finals.

“He’s back cantering and seems in good form. Haydock’s Sprint Cup is the plan, not the Nunthorpe, and then back to Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day.

“I know Kinross will want very soft ground but Shaquille prefers softer ground than faster ground as he is heavy-topped. He has won on soft, albeit in a handicap.”

Kinross bids for back-to-back Sprint success

After Kinross proved his mettle at the age of six with Lennox success at Goodwood last week, his trainer Ralph Beckett said: “We will try to dance every dance – he’s a gelding, very clean-winded and needs no work; we don’t need to gallop him.

“He might go to Doncaster for the Park Stakes and the Forȇt at ParisLongchamp before Ascot.

“He is much better on softer ground and seven furlongs is his ultimate distance but the very stiff six at Ascot on soft ground suits him just as well.”

Karl Burke has entered Sunday’s Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Spycatcher and the filly Swingalong, who won the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York.

Although Spycatcher has raced predominately in France, Burke said: “If the ground turns up soft at Haydock he will run in the Sprint Cup there and the plan is onto Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day. Swingalong wouldn’t want it soft and deserves the entry.”

The strong entry for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes also includes the one-two for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot this year in Khaadem and Sacred along with dual Royal Ascot Wokingham Stakes winner Rohaan.

Sandrine, the 2020 Albany Stakes winner at Royal Ascot, who won last year’s Lennox Stakes at the expense of Kinross, is another notable entry.