The Wetherbys Super Sprint is the feature contest for 2YO’s over 5 furlongs at Newbury on Saturday, a typically competitive affair with the draw and position on the track set to play a huge part in who is the most likely winner of the contest.
21 runners have been declared, and GG editor Jake Russell takes a look at some of they key runners, before giving his verdict on who he’s backing to come out on top!
Odds correct at time of posting – 2.45pm 20th July
Key Runners
Relief Rally
(William Haggas/Tom Marquand)
Arguably the classiest horse heading into this race, she was unlucky not to be heading into this contest with an unbeaten record to her name. A 2 length winner on her debut at Windsor, she then backed that performance up under a penalty when beating Juniper Berries by just under 2 lengths at Salisbury when the latter was well fancied that day, with Unbreak My Heart further behind, who has since won and placed in a Listed contest since then.
She then lined up at Royal Ascot where she was taking on some real international speed balls in the Queen Mary, where she came a nose 2nd behind Crimson Advocate who got first run on the day. Relief Rally was running on very late in the day, and was given a little to much to do midway through the race, but she made up a lot of ground late on which was very eye catching indeed.
Horses drawn 10 or higher have won this contest for the last 10 years, so the lower number draws have been very unfavourable recently, and the William Haggas filly has the decent draw of 18, which will really play to her strengths in this contest. She has bundles of speed, and looks a real nice type, with the class edge to her name, being the top rated in the contest, I fully expect her to go well in this competitive affair.
Bobsleigh
(Eve Johnson Houghton/Charles Bishop)
A real nice 2YO prospect for the yard, who was 2/2 before heading into Royal Ascot last month. He was a tidy winner on debut at Brighton, beating Grey Gray by just under 3 lengths. He then took the step up in class for the first time when contesting in the Woodcote Conditions Stakes at Epsom on Derby weekend, and producing what was quite an eye catching performance. He raced in rear throughout, before making good headway 2 furlongs from home, to then power home and win by three quarters of a length. That form has a little bit of substance to it, with the 2nd place horse Ballon D’or coming 4th in a Group 3 in France over the weekend. He then lined up at the Royal meeting last month, contesting in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes where he was sent off double figure odds, and ran very well to finish 6th, just 3 lengths behind River Tiber. He was probably unlucky not to finish closer, with a slow start and hanging on the track late in the race, so he could have easily squeezed into the places without those errors.
That was a decent performance, and this is arguably a step down in class, but the same could be said about the Haggas filly. If he can put it altogether, break on terms and run a true line he will be there or thereabouts, coming out of draw 16, which provided the winner Happy Romance in 2020. He’s got some class in his locker, and is trained by someone who knows how to win these type of races.
Juniper Berries
(Eve Johnson Houghton/David Probert)
The second of the Johnson Houghton runners, who has a bit to do on the ratings with the main market leaders, who has also been beat by the favourite Relief Rally at Salisbury on her second start. She was an eye-catching winner on debut at Bath in April, beating Grey Gray by just under 5 lengths when running prominently throughout the race, before pulling clear to win going away. She then had the match contest with Relief Rally where she came out second best by just under 2 lengths, before heading to Royal Ascot to contest in the Queen Mary where she came a very decent fourth, only beaten by just under 4 lengths.
That means she does have a fair bit to find on the form with Relief Rally after that Queen Mary performance, and given she is a little behind in the ratings, she has to step up her form to another level to win a contest of this nature. Her lower draw of 4 also isn’t the most favourable draw in this contest, but she seems to be improving slightly with each run, and the yards horses can be known to improve enough to land a contest of this nature.
Son Of Corballis
(Kieran Cotter/Declan McDonogh)
The only Irish raider in this contest, so naturally we have to take note of the horse, with recent Listed winner Declan McDonogh booked to come over and ride. He was an eye-catching winner on debut at Tipperary, with a very well bred Aidan O’Brien horse in behind that day, who was typically well fancied in the market, and was beaten by just over a length. The Cotter trained horse then went to run in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown in April, to run against some of the leading 2yo’s at the time in the UK. He was well beaten that day, by just under 12 lengths, but was slowly into stride and was handled relatively tentatively given it was just his second career run. He most certainly put that run behind him, contesting in a Listed contest at Tipperary last time, where he beat another Aidan O’Brien horse who was well fancied on the day.
He looked to have learned a lot from his past two runs, breaking very well indeed before proceeding to virtually make all before going on to hold off the fast finishing challengers in behind. That was a much improved effort, but he needs to step up even more to land a very competitive contest of this nature. However, he has the plum draw 13 which has provided the winner of two of the last ten renewals. He’s a fascinating runner for a yard whose horses are running very well at present.
Outsiders To Look Out For
La Guarida
(Richard Hannon/Kevin Stott)
A horse that I’m convinced has Group class potential, but didn’t particularly show that was the case last time out when finish last in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot when running over the 7 furlong trip for the very first time. She didn’t break well, and couldn’t really get into the contest, but judging by her previous runs she looks to be better suited to the sprinting trip for now, where she was a decent 3rd on debut behind Jabaara at Newmarket before going on to win nicely at Goodwood in a Maiden contest, with Indispensable 3 lengths behind, who has since come 4th in a Listed contest at Newmarket on the July course. I’m willing to put that previous run behind her from the Royal Meeting, and this drop back down in class and trip will suit her, but the draw however would be a slight concern.
Rosario
(Roger Teal/George Rooke)
One of the least experienced horses in this contest, the Roger Teal Chesnut Gelding is some what of an unknown quantity in a contest of this nature, but couldn’t have been anymore professional in his debut performance at Ffos-Las last month, with Heed The Call back in a 2 length second who has since won and franked the form. The yard aren’t exactly known for producing first time out 2YO winners, so you would have to say this horse could be a decent type for connections, with the yard knowing how to train big race winners with the likes of their super sprinter Oxted. He was obviously eye catching on debut when winning, and he seems to have a nice draw of 20 in this contest, but will need to have improved considerably to land a competitive contest of this nature. However, he does look an exciting recruit heading forward for the yard.
Big-Race Verdict:
There aren’t really many in this contest at bigger prices who look good enough to land a contest of this nature, with a few of them looking unexposed and could improve to make the frame, but would need to improve considerably. Therefore, I just personally can’t see past RELIEF RALLY who has the best form on offer and is the best horse in the contest. She seems to be coming on leaps and bounds with each passing run, and was unlucky not to win a Group contest at Royal Ascot last time. This is very competitive race, so luck in running would need to play a factor, but given her draw of 18 I can see her being just too good for these with conditions very much in her favour.
The unexposed Rosario would be one to keep an eye on also, as he could very much improve to run well in a contest of this nature, and doesn’t have the difficult Royal Ascot runs under his belt.
SELECTION – RELIEF RALLY (7/4 generally)
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