Sprint Races in Ireland

snowydot

Does anyone have any opinions regarding the lack of a Group 1 sprint for 3yo+ race in Ireland? I find it amazing, if you look at all the G1 winning sprint stallions standing at stud round the country yet there isn't near enough sprint races (including decent handicaps). Anyone have an opinion?

masterK

There are few enough runners in the few group sprints that are held here as it is, rarely will you see a pattern sprint with more than 5 or 6 runners.

I do find it amazing for the prize money up for grabs that very few UK based trainers send horses over.

snowydot

The reason I think there are so little runners in pattern sprints is that sprinters aren't catered for here therefore ther are less of them about and therfore less quality.

It's really hard to find a race even for a handicapper. The English dont come over for the big handicaps because they are usually assigned big weights and they dont really need to go to all the trouble as there's usually a big sprint at least once a week over there. What I would love to see is a leg of the Global sprint Challenge at the Curragh, that should attract some foreign big names and drum up a bit of interest.

terry mac

Where would this Group 1 be held. With Leopardstown sprint track gone and the Curragh one having an elbow, its not really an ideal international sprint track. However I do think one sprint G1 instead of a G1 Matron or Pretty Polly or both is a good idea. They should not be both Group 1s and I think the Pretty Polly should get the downgrade. The Tattersalls Gold Cup should get a look at. Some years its good quality, some years not but I suppose it serves its purpose as first race back for good horses.

The flat pattern races system has a bit of credibility attached to it at least, unlike the National Hunt fiasco, Grade 1s popping up everywhere. Was Morgiana Grade 1 this year????? To add to that Tipperary hurdle, and then Barry and Sandra Kelly just a few weeks after Royal Bond, talk about devaluing a Grade 1 win. Leopardstown over Christmas has way too many aswell, used to be one a day or less, now they're nearly all Grade 1s. Sure, I think out of lets say NH 65 Grade 1s between GB & I, we have I'd say 40. They have about 12 in Cheltenham, 6 in Aintree and another 6 or 7, meaning their Grade 1s are actually meaningful.

(Feel free to dismiss my numbers re Grade 1s, trying to think off the top of my head)

mdwexford

talking about stupid sprints 3 weeks before the festival, disgraceful

Robin1982

I've always considered it strange that sprints in thoroughbred racing are not thought of so highly. Unlike athletics, where the blue riband event is the 100m sprint, the middle distances (10f-12f) races are currently the most prized.

Since thoroughbred sprinters (at least up to 5.5f/6f) are almost entirely running on anaerobic energy, they are quite simply the fastest horses; the Ferraris of their breed.

knighted

mdwexford wrote:

talking about stupid sprints 3 weeks before the festival, disgraceful

yeah should be banned from posting till after cheltenham

knighted

i dont know enuff bout flat racing/breeding but one piece of advice i was given regarding national hunt is never to buy from a family/bloodline that only stay the minimun distance (nh 2 miles) as it severely limits the opertunitys to race etc -anyone any views or does the same apply to flat ?

terry mac

I don't know much about flat breeding, but what I do know is the emphasis is on speed, speed, speed. Sprinters/Milers a lot more fashionable than 10 - 12f Middle distance horses, even though Coolmore have been able to successfully market their 12f stallions, but thats Coolmore.

knighted

well in my limited knowledge i agree about speed but as to being more fashionable i dont know -everyone wants the derby winner which is 12f -i realise the stamina comes from the dam side but the most sucessful sires have been middle distance ie saddlers wells -it just brings it back to my question about limiting options when buying minimum distance horses

kincsem

I analysed the pedigrees of all the sprint races at Royal Ascot a few years ago. The horses in the pedigrees were totally different from 7f, 8f, 10f, 12f horses. It was as if I was looking at a breed of aliens. The sprinting game is very specialised. Ireland seems to produce about one sprinter a year (at most).

terry mac

The problem with sprint racing is that its very hard to establish a consistent pecking order. Very few win more than one of the sprinting G1s and some handicapper usually comes and wins them. Often the form never runs over to the next race. When was the last time you looked forward to a sprint race with two stars going to battle. Choisir vs Oasis Dream??

snowydot

I agree with you Terry about the consistancy, but I think last year brought a bit of order with Les Arcs, Reverence and Amadeus Wolf all usually in the mix. I dont mind the odd high class handicapper poping up as there is so little difference between top class handicappers and group level over sprinting distances eg Desert Lord last year I just feel that it an area we neglect over here.