Haydock-bound Gustavus Weston warms up for Sprint Cup with stylish success

Gustavus Weston will next month attempt something only one Irish-trained horse has managed to do since 1972 – win the Betfair Sprint Cup.

Since Vincent O'Brien sent Abergwaun over to Haydock to do the business 49 years ago, only Gordon Lord Byron in 2013 has managed to achieve the feat, so it is not a prize that is easily exported across the Irish Sea.

Gustavus Weston could not be travelling over there in better nick, though, as his front-running success under Gary Carroll in the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes was unquestionably the most impressive of his four career wins.

This is a sprinter who is ready for his first crack at a Group 1 and winning trainer Joe Murphy agreed that he has turned inside out this season.

Murphy said: "That's a stepping stone to Haydock on September 4. Then we might come back for the Flying Five here and maybe the Abbaye. That was a very good performance and the time was good.

"We've found the key to him. He's a more relaxed horse now and he's stronger. He keeps on improving all the time."

The trainer added: "It's amazing, since we've put him into a big stable on his own. He has a whole barn to himself; he's just thrived. It's amazing how little things like that can make such a difference.

"That's the thing with horses; whether they can sing or not you have to get the voice out. We have to make him sing and he's giving us memories that will last a lifetime."

Sponsors Betfair and Paddy Power left Gustavus Weston unchanged at 12-1 for the Sprint Cup.

Cairde has bright future

When translated from Irish into English Cairde Go Deo means 'friends forever' and assistant trainer Shane Lyons reckons the daughter of Camelot could be a very good pal to punters in 2022.

She won the 7f fillies' race in emphatic fashion under Colin Keane and the way in which she strode clear of 2.8 million guineas purchase History suggests she has a very bright future indeed.

Lyons said: "It's all about next year for her. We trained her mother and we loved her and right from day one this filly told us she was all class.

"She wants a mile and she wants next year. We won't over-race her, although she will run again this year at some stage once she tells us she's ready."

Maiden double for Harrington

Cadillac could finish only ninth to State Of Rest in the Saratoga Derby on Saturday night, but Jessica Harrington was consoled by a 27-1 double in the two maidens on the Curragh card.

Cowboy Justice, in the Cadillac colours of Alpha Racing, landed the opening 7f maiden and My Holy Fox stayed on best of all to win the fillies' maiden over the same trip later on the card. Both were ridden by Shane Foley, who went on to bag the big one on Ebro River.

Harrington said of the pair: "Shane said Cowboy Justice is still pretty immature and will improve again from that. He's a nice horse and we'll probably be staying at seven furlongs for the moment. We could look at something like the Futurity.

"My Holy Fox will get covered as she's a beautifully-bred filly but it would be nice to pick up some black type before then."

Fast Eddie sends out 1-2 in sprint maiden

Jon Riggens made a winning start for Eddie Lynam in the 5f maiden, leading home a 1-2 for the stable and justifying 9-4 favouritism under a cool ride from Shane Crosse.

Lynam said: "It’s good to get him started and I hadn’t done a lot with him. It’s a poisoned chalice as the man [Sean Hennessy] who had him before me did a great job with him. You're always worried that they'll go backwards.

"Shane said he’s the same horse and he did it well. We’ll have a look at handicaps now. The other horse [Heavenly Power] ran well and looks like he might win his maiden too."

Texas too hot for rivals

Texas Rock ended a drought that was approaching four years when landing the concluding 6f handicap.

In fairness to Michael Grassick's veteran, he has been holding some decent company over the years and was once rated as high as 103.

Victory off 74 was a tonic for all concerned with the ten-year-old, who has now seven wins on his CV.

Results, replays and analysis

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