Lazzat heads 22 contenders for Sprint Cup gold Some of Europe’s top sprinters are lining up for the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock this weekend. Lazzat and No Half Measures headline Sprint Cup entries French star Lazzat, July Cup hero No Half Measures and the supplemented Sky Majesty are among 22 potential runners in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday. Jerome Reynier’s Lazzat struck Royal Ascot gold in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his penultimate start, beating Japanese ace Satono Reve. Although he suffered a surprise defeat when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, he remains a 2-1 favourite with Paddy Power for this Group One contest. No Half Measures provided Richard Hughes with his first top-level success as a trainer in Newmarket’s July Cup and now has the chance to show that her shock 66-1 victory was no fluke. Hughes could also saddle Sayidah Dariyan, who finished seventh in the Nunthorpe at York a fortnight ago. Hughes said: “She (No Half Measures) looks really good at the moment and we are really pleased with her. She has had a nice gap, but we always thought this was going to be her Derby.” On Sayidah Dariyan, Hughes added: “She missed the kick in the Nunthorpe… however she ran on strongly to the line. I was impressed with her.” Sky Majesty supplemented as competition deepens William Haggas has supplemented the fast-improving Sky Majesty, joining stablemate Almeraq at a cost of £20,000. Sky Majesty is one of two supplementary entries alongside Eve Johnson Houghton’s Rage Of Bamby. Other notable contenders include Harry Eustace’s Commonwealth Cup heroine Time For Sandals and James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue, last season’s Qipco British Champions Sprint winner who bounced back to form when third in the Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh. Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket remains in the entries but may instead head to the Flying Five at the Curragh. O’Brien said: “Whistlejacket is in at Haydock but he could miss that and wait for the Flying Five at the Curragh the following Saturday - He’s quick, it’s just taken a while to get him back.”
