Maarek storms to victory in the Sprint

Maarek holds off Hawkeyethenoo to win the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes for Ireland. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Maarek, trained by David Nagle and ridden by Jamie Spencer, came with an unstoppable run up the stands-side rail to lift the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes and make it two-out-of-two for Ireland on QIPCO British Champions Day.

He took it up over a furlong out and went clear and hard though Hawkeyethenoo tried in the centre to close him down, he could not get there.

The winning margin was three-quarters of a length, with Sirius Prospect back in third.

The triumphant jockey said: "He’s been very consistent all season and he loves soft ground.

"I got a good lead into the race from Neil (Callan, on The Cheka) and everything worked out perfectly."

The winning trainer said: "He loves soft, it was a big pot, so why not? He’s been in good form all season.

"He does a lot of swimming at home and he hasn’t got that many miles on the clock really. We’ve kept him fresh all year.

"I think that will be him finished for the year and we will go off through the Group races next season.

"I hope we have another wet summer."