Muhaarar and Twilight Son in line for QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes success

Europe’s top sprinter Muhaarar is on course for his final run of the season in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes on British Champions Day this Saturday.

The Commonwealth Cup and Darley July Cup winner has been declared among 20 contenders for the newly-upgraded Group 1 sprint contest alongside Betfred Sprint Cup winner Twilight Son and the supplemented The Tin Man.

Qatar Racing Limited’s Strath Burn and previous champions Gordon Lord Byron and Maarek are also readying themselves to regain their Champions Day crowns.

James Fanshawe, trainer of The Tin Man, said: “The Tin Man did his final breeze on Wednesday morning and seems in good shape.

“A lot of thought and discussion went into the decision to supplement him – £40,000 is a lot of money. Hopefully we have come to the right decision.

“He will go there in good form, on a roll, and the fact that he has form over the course and distance on similar ground to what we will get on Saturday helped make up our minds. He won so well last time, albeit against handicappers – he just cruised through the race.

“I won this race four years ago with his half-brother, Deacon Blues, and the pair are similar in the way that they travel through their races and quicken up, but Deacon Blues was a year older when he won it and had improved a lot for being gelded.

“The Tin Man has a bit to find to achieve what Deacon Blues did but he’s improving all the time.”

QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes declarations:

Muhaarar, Twilight Son, The Tin Man, Strath Burn, Danzeno, Adaay, Maarek, Gordon Lord Byron, Lightning Moon, Eastern Impact, Jack Dexter, Emperor Max, Great Minds, Heaven’s Guest, Coulsty, Aeolus, Interception, Naadirr, Gathering Power and Lancelot Du Lac.