Ratings Update: Reflection looking competitive for Champions Sprint

Unfortunately for Haydock’s Sprint Cup, the standout six-furlong performer of the season missed the course’s showpiece race for the second year running, with the rain that hit the track throughout Saturday inevitably leading to the withdrawal of impressive July Cup winner Limato in the early afternoon.

However, even if Limato and last season’s winner Twilight Son (not declared) had lined up, they may not have been able to live with Quiet Reflection, who won with a level of authority not often seen at Group 1 level, for all that the soft ground meant that some of her main rivals, including Dancing Star (117) and Magical Memory (124), were unable to run to form. Quiet Reflection, whose best performance on Timeform ratings prior to this came over the same C&D in the Sandy Lane Stakes in May, is now rated 126 (from 120) and is sure to have good prospects of adding a third Group 1 to her tally in the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot in October.

For context, Limato – rated 129 on his July Cup win – would be 1 lb higher than Quiet Reflection on weight-adjusted ratings in the Champions Sprint, while Quiet Reflection would be 1 lb ahead of Twilight Son. However, all three of those sprinters would have something to find with Mecca’s Angel (132) were she able to replicate the sort of form that saw her win last month’s Nunthorpe over a furlong longer trip.

The placed horses in the Sprint Cup consisted of The Tin Man (121) who ran right up to his best and might have made more of a race of it had he exited the stalls quicker, and Suedois (122) who deserves a little extra credit for finishing third despite being in the firing line throughout.

The Superior Mile earlier on the same card was a strong race for a Group 3 and produced an exciting finish fought out between Hathal and Mitchum Swagger, with Convey just a neck back in third. Hathal showed no ill effects from a 12-month absence and produced a career best to gain a first group-level success. Now rated 118+, there are plenty of positives where he is concerned, and, provided he comes out of the race okay he will be competitive upped in grade, with the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket appealing as a good option from his list of current entries.

Mitchum Swagger (118) didn’t have too many excuses in second, and it could be that most of his improvement is now behind him. Convey (117) ran just about his best race to date under a switch to front-running tactics and should pick up a race at this level before long.

There was also pattern racing at Kempton on Saturday, starting with the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes, which was won in impressive fashion by the likable The Last Lion (107), who made the most of a good opportunity with his main rival in the market Koropick (96p) failing to progress as anticipated from his taking winning debut.

The September Stakes was won for a sixth time by Sir Michael Stoute, with Arab Spring (120) getting back on track following his poor run in the Juddmonte International last time. The form doesn’t look the strongest for the grade given it was a tactical affair, but the right horses came to the fore, with Robin of Navan (114) posting an encouraging reappearance after his flop in the Prix du Jockey Club, and Sky Hunter (119) also shaping as though retaining plenty of ability 10 months on from his below-par run in the Melbourne Cup.