The Super Sprint Trophy is a flat horse race held at Newbury for two-year-old thoroughbreds and was first run in 1991.
The race is currently restricted to horses sold as yearlings at Weatherbys sales for 37,000 guineas or less before July 1st, or 40,000 guineas or less after June 30th. The weights carried are determined by the sale price of the horses, with one pound deducted for each 2,500 guineas below 40,000.
The Weatherbys Super Sprint quite often produces a fairytale story and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top at Newbury on Saturday. Mrs Danvers attracted not one sales bid at a reserve of £1,000 as an unraced juvenile but went on to amass upwards of £120,000 in prize money last year. She went on to win twice more for the Jonathan Portman stable, including at Group Three level, so it’s a “never-say-never” race for many of the contenders this weekend.
A maximum field of 25 juveniles go to post on Saturday afternoon and here is a look at some of the leading contenders:
Mother Of Dragons
Joe Tuite is excited by the prospects of Mother Of Dragons (8st). The Qatar Racing-owned filly, who cost just €2,000 at Tattersalls Ireland in 2016, was narrowly denied on her first two starts at Windsor and Goodwood before finishing mid-division in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tuite said: “I am very happy with Mother Of Dragons. The filly is in good shape and we are looking forward to Saturday.
“I thought she ran well at Ascot. We were not disappointed and ever since then we have been aiming at the Weatherbys Super Sprint.
“We get in the race off a very raceable weight that’s for sure, and there doesn’t appear to be a Tiggy Wiggy or the likes turning up this time. It doesn’t look that way at the moment anyway!
“I am very happy with mine and, off eight stone with Jimmy Quinn on board, I wouldn’t swap her.”
Tuite previously saddled Field Of Vision to take third place in this in 2015.
Maggies Angel
Maggies Angel (8st 6lb) arguably brings the best form into the Weatherbys Super Sprint.
The two-year-old Dark Angel filly finished second to stablemate Dance Diva over a furlong further in Newmarket's Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes on July 1st. Yorkshire trainer Richard Fahey is chasing a third victory in five years in this contest.
One For June
William Haggas, who lifted this prize with Superstar Leo in 2000 and Jargelle in 2008, goes in this time with One For June (8st 5lb). The daughter of Arcano got off the mark earlier this month.
"She won at Lingfield last week. It was six furlongs. I think she's got enough speed for five and she's in good form, so we're going to have a go," Maureen Haggas, the trainer's wife and assistant, told At The Races earlier in the week.
Snazzy Jazzy
A Goodwood maiden winner who missed a possible Royal Ascot run for this race. Clive Cox chose to swerve that meeting with the colt and he could reap the rewards here instead.
The Goodwood win was nothing special, but given how Cox's juveniles are performing this season, further improvement would be no surprise for Snazzy Jazzy (9st 1lb).
Time Trail
The unbeaten filly Time Trail will race off 8st 8lbs on Saturday.
The daughter of Swiss Spirit scored by a short-head first time up at Beverley in May and doubled up three weeks later in a five-furlong novice event restricted to fillies at Catterick, defeating Lady Anjorica (8st 4lb) by a head.
Michael Dods paid £38,000 for Time Trail at Goffs in September said about his filly: "Time Trail is in good form and there is a good chance she will run in the Super Sprint provided the ground doesn't get too quick.
"She has won her two starts narrowly so far. She did well on debut at Beverley and then struggled a little bit under the penalty at Catterick.
"I think the handicapper has probably got her where she should be at the moment. She has to step up if she is going to be competitive, but we feel it is worth having a go."
Bengali Boys
Another contender for Richard Fahey who runs a total of five horses in this race. This colt has done well in novices after a debut win, finishing runner-up twice.
He certainly makes plenty of each-way appeal after running three gutsy races thus far.
Corinthia Knight
Archie Watson, who is enjoying a highly successful first full season as a trainer, is hoping dual winner Corinthia Knight can provide him with his most valuable success so far in his fledgling career.
Watson said earlier in the week: "He's in very good order and has only 8st 7lb to carry. His overall form is very good. He won two races impressively on the all-weather and the form of his second to Frozen Angel at Ascot in May – where he possibly ran a bit flat – has worked out well. He finished a long way in front of Tangled, who is now rated 88 after winning a Newmarket nursery."
Falabell
Kevin Ryan’s maiden was beaten a short-head on debut and was then demoted to third place.
Not many maidens win this race but Kevin Ryan’s stable is flying again after an interrupted season and this runner will easily be missed on the betting radar by many.
Verdict
25 two-year-olds sprinting over the minimum distance does not look the obvious place to be finding winners but there is some value lurking in there somewhere.
Richard Fahey’s runners all deserve a second look given his recent record in the race but the selection goes to the lightly weighted, Qatar Racing owned, Mother Of Dragons.
The Qataris won’t just be at Newbury for a fun day out on Saturday and Joe Tuite is likely to have this runner in tip top condition.
888sport selection: Mother Of Dragons (each-way).
