Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 Sprint Cup
This Group One takes place at Haydock on Saturday 7th September
Read quotes from Karl Burke, Kevin Ryan, David Egan and more
Karl Burke has three runners in Saturday's Sprint Cup. (Getty)
Sprint Cup 2024 Quotes
Kevin Ryan (Inisherin)
Karl Burke (Elite Status)
Karl Burke (Swingalong)
Clive Cox (Jasour)
David Egan (Bucanero Fuerte)
Tim Palin (Racing manager to Shouldvebeenaring's owners)
Mick Appleby (Annaf)
Kate Harrington (Assistant trainer, Givemethebeatboys)
Ryan Moore (Spycatcher)
Bermuda Racing (Owners of Flora Of Bermuda)
William Haggas (Montassib & Unequal Love)
Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 Sprint Cup, which takes place at Haydock on Saturday.
Read what the connections of this year's contenders have had to say, before their stable stars take part at Haydock.
2024 Sprint Cup News - Quotes From Connections
Kevin Ryan (Inisherin)
Before Newmarket, he had also been quite busy. He had gone from a maiden, then the Guineas and Royal Ascot which were championship races. He was in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, but I spoke with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and we decided to miss it and freshen him up for the two big sprints at the end of the year - Haydock and Ascot.
We just backed off him a bit and have facilities here like the water treadmill which he loves going on. It’s just good to give him a change of scenery and keeping him at a certain level of fitness. You work backwards from the race and keep an eye on his weight. Obviously he is now approaching four and is getting stronger and gaining more muscle as the year goes on.
We’ve had an uninterrupted run and all his work has gone to plan when we wanted it to. He is very fresh and well. Knowing the horse, we haven’t had a concern with him in any of his work and I’m confident we are in the right place.
Karl Burke (Elite Status)
The issue with Elite Status knocking his joint seems very much behind him and since Ascot he’s been very good. He obviously put up a big performance at Newbury last time and he’s training very well, so we are very hopeful.
He handles some cut in the ground and going on the easy side of good would be fine, but we wouldn’t want a lot of rain for him so I was pleased to hear that they were expecting it to dry out a bit before Saturday.
If that was the case it would suit both Elte Status and Swingalong, but obviously the softer the better so far as Spycatcher is concerned. One way or another we’ve got the ground covered though, and I think if there’s any soft in the description Spycatcher will take his chance.
Tom Eaves riding Inisherin to victory in the Commonwealth Cup during Royal Ascot 2024 at Ascot. (Getty)
Karl Burke (Swingalong)
She worked exceptionally well on Friday. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She's been unlucky not to get her head in front in a Group 1 and she's in great form.
Clive Cox (Jasour)
The setback before Goodwood was unfortunate, but he’s in good shape now. He’s entered in both the Haydock sprint and the Flying Five. We’ll decide based on the weather and his condition.
He’s proven over six furlongs and we’re pleased to have that option (at Haydock), but we also have the entry in the Flying Five as well. I’m very happy he has trained through the last week and I’m looking forward to wherever he ends up running next.
David Egan (Bucanero Fuerte)
I'm really looking forward to it, very much so. It was disappointing he had to miss the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot at the last minute, but it means he'll be coming into Haydock fresh, which might not be a bad thing.
He did it the hard way at Naas when I rode him. We had to work early on, they attacked him early, but I thought he showed a really willing attitude to get the job done and we all thought he would take a step forward afterwards so that's why I was heartbroken when he couldn't run at Ascot because of that setback. I thought he had a brilliant chance in the Commonwealth Cup, especially since the race fell apart a bit with all the non-runners.
It's an open race and the door is open for a horse like him to bounce back on the scene," Egan said. "I'm really looking forward to getting back on board, he's in good form and, fingers crossed, he can give a good account of himself.
Tim Palin (Racing manager to Shouldvebeenaring's owners)
We've been looking forward to this all year as we believe this is his best chance of winning a Group 1.
He's raced twice here and finished second both times, and him loving it here gives him a live chance. The draw gods were kind to us with stall 14 and we could just do with the weather gods doing so too, as we could do with it marginally not raining.
Last year we knew it was – and still is – the right race for him. It was beyond our wildest dreams, but it was agonising to be beaten like that. We're more expectant this year.
Richard said the City Of York would've put him spot on for this as he had a little break after scoping dirty before the Prix Maurice de Gheest. Some tipsters have been putting up a couple of each-way outsiders for it and I know racing is a matter of opinions, but I'm a bit surprised he's not been put up by more as a bet.
Kind Of Blue (left) running Elite Status close in the Hackwood Stakes. (Getty)
Mick Appleby (Annaf)
He’s got over all his issues and seems in good order. He might possibly need the run but he’s as well as we can get him – hopefully he goes to Haydock and runs well.
He developed pneumonia on the flight over to Dubai, because he was on there for so long, I think. He got really sick, it was touch and go at one point whether he was going to make it or not. Luckily, he’s made a full recovery and is in good form now.
Whatever he does on Saturday, he will improve on anyway and I suppose this is his level now, so it’s worth having a go. As long as he comes back sound, that is the main thing.
Kate Harrington (Assistant trainer, Givemethebeatboys)
It’s great to get the horse back on track after Ascot. He had an abscess underneath his lip the size of a golf ball and had an operation to have it removed about three weeks ago.
Shane (Foley) said he took a little blow half a furlong down, so he’ll improve plenty from that.
Ryan Moore (Spycatcher)
His two most recent runs have been in Deauville - the same track where he just failed to win the G1 Maurice de Gheest last season - and landed a G3 there on the most recent occasion. There is currently no standout horse in this division, and he deserves to take his chance here. It looks a wide-open G1 and any rain would be a help to this lad.
Bermuda Racing (Owners of Flora Of Bermuda)
She deserves her place in the field of this iconic race, coming off her recent 4th in the Group 1 Prix Maurice De Gheest (where she was the best of the British contingent) in early August, following her impressive Group 3 William Hill Summer Stakes win at York in July.
She has been working extremely well at home and all associated with her expect that she will give another good account of herself.
William Haggas (Montassib & Unequal Love)
Montassib and Unequal Love will run I'd have thought. They're outsiders but they're both useful sprinters and it's an open year, so why not give it a go?
