Society Rock and Dream Ahead seek further sprinting glory

Dream Ahead wins the Darley July Cup from Bated Breath – the pair are set to lock horns again in Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.  Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The winners of the two six furlong sprints run so far in the QIPCO British Champions Series catch the eye amongst the 17 horses left in the third race over that distance, the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on Saturday.

Society Rock took the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June for trainer James Fanshawe, while the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead landed the Darley July Cup at Newmarket in July in most impressive fashion.

Society Rock was forced to miss the Newmarket contest after a training setback, but then took on Dream Ahead in the Prix Mauruice de Gheest over 6 1/2 furlongs in France on 7 August.

He finished runner-up to the impressive French-trained winner, Moonlight Cloud, while Dream Ahead, who started the red-hot favourite, was a disappointing seventh.

The winner of one of the five furlong QIPCO British Champions Series sprints, Sole Power, who took the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in May, is also in the line-up, while the Darley July Cup runner-up, Bated Breath, can be exected to go close if the ground rides fast.  

The ante-post favourite for the race is Society Rock’s stable companion Deacon Blues, who will be tackling his first race at the highest level after racking up three impressive victories against lower grade opposition. 

Clearly improving fast, the four-year-old looks sure to be a threat to them all.

Hoof It, the impressive Stewards Cup winner who flopped over five furlongs in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, has been supplemented for the contest and can be expected to fare much better with a furlong further to cover this time, while Delegator, Genki, Elzaam and Wooton Bassett all have the ability to make their presence felt in what promises to be a cracking race.

The final declarations will be made on Thursday morning, with many trainers keeping a close eye on the weather forceast. 

David Simcock will be anxious to avoid fast ground for Dream Ahead and, while Society Rock seems to go on any surface, most of the other intended runners would have their chances enhanced if the rain stays away.

If you can make it Haydock Park on Saturday, you won’t be disappointed!

It’s the Lancashire track’s biggest Flat raceday of the year and a fantastic atmosphere is guaranteed.  To book tickets, CLICK HERE.