3 minute read

Trainer Karl Burke will be hoping the ground comes up soft for star sprinter Spycatcher in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Park on 9 September.

The five-year-old gelding was denied by the narrowest of margins when second in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheestat Deauville on Sunday, missing out to the French-trained King Gold. Ridden by Maxime Guyon, Spycatcher kicked for home in the final furlong but was reeled in by Stephane Pasquier aboard King Gold. 

"It was a bit frustrating as it was literally a nod of the heads, wasn't it? Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they go against you, it's just a shame it went against us in a Group One," said trainer Karl Burke.

"I think he was probably the best horse in the race. Take nothing away from the winner, who stays really well, whereas we have that turn of foot and got away from them by that two or three lengths and probably thought we had the race in the bag at the furlong pole.

"The winner just cut us down and then we battled back again, credit to Spycatcher, but it was heads up heads down and it went against us.

"Fingers crossed he stays in one piece and Haydock will be the plan, presuming the ground is right, and also Champions Day at Ascot, which nine times out of 10 does come up in our favour.

"We're in the lap of the gods really as if either of those races are run on fast ground he won't be there, but hopefully we'll find some nice sprint races for him here or in France or wherever."

Spycatcher could take on dual Group 1 winner Shaquille in the Haydock showpiece and is generally available at 10/1.