The Sprinters Cup (Gr.1) run during the Invitational weekend is the fastigium race for horses that excel at the popular sprint distance of 1200m. Across the year, there are a total of 16 group races run over the distance of 6 furlongs. Various centres have preparatory races leading to the Sprinters Cup, however some of them are reserved for the 3-year-olds. One such race is The Juvenile Sprinters Million (Gr.3). The race got a group status in 1998 and the said title in 2001.The “elite” bunch of juveniles usually give this race a miss as is evident from the fact that not a single winner of this race could win a Sprinters Cup, Gr.1. The best of the crop are occupied preparing or contesting the summer classics. However, the field of seven running on Saturday offers shades of optimism.In Saturday’s field, no two horses have faced each other earlier.

Sea Quest won this race last year shattering the course record in 01:10.71, whatin one’s memory would be the only instance of a horse breaking record timing on debut. A year later, the same connections have come back with the strongly builtStorm Breaker (LeitirMor – Haunting Memories). The Poonawalla stud-bred colt ran an eye-catching second on the eve of Indian Derby, going down by just half a length to OuiSauvage. In The Poonawalla Breeders Multi Million (Gr.1), he finished 7th in a vastly competitive field of 13, reportedly hanging out from the bend to the post.Horses earlier in their career often get erratic when they get a clear run in the straight, eventually losing a few strides in the process. Storm Breaker sported blinkers in his next run at Bangalore and won it by 4 lengths, albeit after getting few cracksofthe whip. Hence, the equipment should be paid attention to, which can well decide his running behavioron Saturday. A light handicap of 52kgs too should help his cause anda front-running role would improve his chances of winning as evident from his previous runs. His dam Haunting Memories won The Sprinters Cup, Gr.1 in 2007 and half-brother Mygrator (by Excellent Art) too excelled at 1200m. Storm Breaker has been doing well in his morning workoutssince his last run.The Narredus have won this race 6 times as jockey/trainer and since the monsoon hasn’t really arrived in Bangalore yet, what would be better than a ‘storm breaking’ on Saturday!!

Another western India colt thatcatches ones attention is Mzilikazi (KingdaKa – Al Khazneh). In his only start, Mzilikazi ran 5th to Belenus in Mumbai in April. That PesiShroff’s wards seldom win on their debut run is a well-known fact and Mzilikazitoo seemed to have got an ‘easy’ run. He has reportedly ‘moved well’ with Wizard Of Stocks in trackwork and ran a decent mock behind Mystic Bay & Cambridge. His half-brother Bateleur (by Western Aristocrat) showed signs that he was more comfortable at 7 furlongs or more. Few may know that Al Khazneh was a full-sister to the champion miler Serjeant At Arms and therefore 1200m for Mzilikazi might be a little sharp. He is named after an African king, meaning ‘The Great Road’. The Juvenile Sprinters Million can well be that ‘road’ to the monsoon classics for Mzilikazi.

Prasanna Kumar trained Roma Victor (Gusto – Romany Spirit) has been on board in 5 of his 6 starts which includes two wins, both at 1200m. He has run in good company, finishing 3rd to Impavid in March and later 6th to Anjeze in May. Roma Victor won his next start on 23rd June, showing glimpses of great intent on a damp track. Though the going was reported ‘good’ at 3.2cms that day, Roma Victor ran courageously coming from 7th position to win it by 2 1/4 lengths. Timing of 01:15.11 can’t really be questioned as it was a slow-run race with riders paying extra caution to the wet track. In sprint races, taking a good jump and settling early on often decides the eventual positions (unless gifted with a golden toe like Ruffina) and hence running at back of the field in sprints might not be suitable for Roma Victor. Gusto won six races in UK including five at 6 furlongs. Gusto’s top two stake earners so far – Knotty Ash & Capricious have performed well at 6f.

Fillies have tasted success several times in this race, winning 9 times out of 18 and Sitara (Arazan – Flaming Glory) would look to turn that into double digits. Sitara caught attention as a 2-year-old, winning on debut by 6 1/4 lengths and then won The Byerly Turk Million (Gr.3) beating Cape Kidnappers, in almost a Class I timing. She ran a good second to Areca Legend last month and has been reported to be ‘in fine nick’.Her full-brother Chief Of Command won The Nilgiris Derby, Gr.1but half-sister Flaming Martini (by Excellent Art) won all her three races at 1200m. Rest assured, Saturday’s race will be Sitara’s test of class and speed.

Chennai-based Breaking Bounds (Tazahum – Dear Liza) finds himself on the unfortunate side of the terms of the race, which has penalized him for winning 3 races in Ooty. The huge gap of standard between Chennai/Ooty and other centres is well-known to everyone and hence penalizing a horse 5kgs for winning races in Ooty is squarely unfair and thus calls for a review of how terms of such races are framed. Breaking Bounds finished 3rd in The Nilgiris Derby, Gr.1 in May and won his last start commandingly by 8 lengths. Half-sister Oh Dear (by Mathematician) performed well in sprints. 

Musterion (Dean’s Kitten – Golda Seek) has failed to make noteworthy impact in his 5 runs. He is a half-brother to Ancient Glory (by Noverre) who won 6 races at 1200m. His trainer AravindGanapathy won this race with Referent in 2015. Glorious Dancer (Arazan – Glorious Breaker) will debut on Saturday, carrying bottom weight of 50.5kgs. Her full-brother Sagittarius performed well at longer distances.

Facts That Matter

•    The last 3 editions of this race have been won by Mumbai-based horses – Sea Quest, Anacapri& Sydney Harbour. The Saturday’s field has 2 Mumbai-based horses. 

•    Only once across 18 runnings has a colt won this race – Red Eagle in 2006. Saturday’s field has 5 colts.

•    SurajNarredu has won it the most number of times – 4, including a hat-trick in 2004, 2005 and 2006. 

•    5 got-abroads have passed the post first. Though, Saturday’s field involves no got-abroads.

•    No winner of this race has ever won The Sprinters Cup (Gr.1).

•    Geldings have won it 8 times, however there are none running on Saturday.