Jim Crowley: “I think Khadeem has a great chance in the Sprint Cup”
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Coral ambassador previews his Saturday rides at Haydock
My first ride of the day is on Reshoun in the Old Borough Cup, a race we won well twelve months ago.
The more rain the better for this horse, it was heavy when we won here last year, so the current soft ground will be no problem.
It does look a slightly stronger renewal this time, but he’s only rated three pounds higher, we know he goes well at this time of year, he’s a smashing horse and I think he can run a big race.
The big race of the day is the Sprint Cup, and I’m really looking forward to riding Khaadem in this. He’s got form on all sorts of going, including good to soft, so I don’t think the soft ground here will worry him too much.
Ten Sovereigns came out as it’s too soft, while it’s a shame Advertise won’t line up, but the likes of Dream Of Dreams and Brando will relish the ground, but I think my fellow has a great chance and looks set to be sent off favourite now.
It is a big step up from the Stewards’ Cup, but he was very impressive that day, and we’ve seen plenty of sprinters make the jump from handicaps to Group races, and we shouldn’t forget that he went into the Commonwealth Cup as a leading fancy, it just didn’t happen for him that day, but Charlie [Hills] has always held him in high regard.
When comparing this horse with Battaash, there’s quite a big difference between five and six furlongs, and very few horses are top class at both trips – Battaash is all speed, much more so than Khaadem, while it’s still early days for the latter, he’s only a 3-year-old, and I’d like to think he has more big days ahead of him, not just this season but next as well.
The one thing they have in common is that they are both lovely horses, and I’ve got lots to look forward to as we head into the autumn.
As for Battaash, he will miss Ireland [the Flying Five] next weekend, and head to Longchamp for the Abbaye next month, a race he’s won before. Whether he then heads to America for the Breeders’ Cup or not has yet to be decided, Sheikh Hamdan will make that call.
My final ride is on Time For A Toot in the concluding mile handicap.
He carries top weight here, and although he hasn’t won yet this season, he is a course and distance winner and will love the soft ground which he’ll get here, so if he can step up on his last run, he’d have an each-way chance here.
Jim
