YOU DA MAN
Runner-up to Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in last month's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) exacted revenge on that rival with a game score in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot. Finding an immediate rhythm steadied in mid division behind a surprisingly subdued tempo, the 13-2 chance was shaken up to close just inside the two pole and ran on strongly under a late drive to claim a career high by a length from 50-1 outsider Growl (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who pipped Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) by a short head for second. “I felt he was potentially the best horse in the field and he proved to be,” commented winning rider Tom Queally, who partnered Frankel in all 14 careers starts. “He needs cover, thankfully he got it and showed just how good he is. It's a special day for the whole team and I got more of a kick out of this than any of the other big-race winners I've had. The ground is on the slow side of good, but he is a quick horse.”
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £600,000, ASC, 10-15, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.15, gd.
1–&THE TIN MAN (GB), 128, g, 4, by Equiano (Fr)
1st Dam: Persario (GB), by Bishop of Cashel (GB)
2nd Dam: Barford Lady (GB), by Stanford
3rd Dam: Grace Poole (GB), by Sallust (GB)
(80,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Fred Archer Racing – Ormonde; B-Mrs Elizabeth Grundy (GB); T-James Fanshawe; J-Tom Queally. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 11-6-1-0, $664,258. *1/2 to Deacon Blues (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & Ire at 5-7f, G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, $520,715. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Growl (GB), 128, g, 4, Oasis Dream (GB)">Oasis Dream (GB)–Desert Tigress, by Storm Cat. (38,000gns HRA '15 TA15). O-Dr Marwan Koukash; B-Kincorth Investments Inc (GB); T-Richard Fahey. £129,000.
3–Brando (GB), 128, g, 4, Pivotal (GB)–Argent du Bois, by Silver Hawk. (52,000gns Ylg '13 TATOCT; 115,000gns 2yo '14 TATBRE). O-Mrs Angie Bailey; B-Car Colston Hall Stud (GB); T-Kevin Ryan. £64,560.
Margins: 1, HD, HF. Odds: 6.50, 50.00, 14.00.
Also Ran: Signs of Blessing (Ire), Don't Touch (GB), Librisa Breeze (GB), Quiet Reflection (GB), Jack Dexter (GB), Mr Lupton (Ire), Shalaa (Ire), Twilight Son (GB), Mecca's Angel (Ire), Donjuan Triumphant (Ire). Scratched: Mobsta (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
The Tin Man, who ran fourth in this contest last year, opened this term with victory in Windsor's Listed Leisure S. before finishing eighth of nine in the June 18 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. over this course and distance. Back in the groove in Newbury's July 16 G3 Hackwood S., he bettered a last-out second in Haydock's Sept. 3 G1 Sprint Cup and remained on an upward trajectory with a lifetime best here. “All year it has been stop-start with him, he had a problem in the spring and I've not been able to get him as ready as I'd have liked,” said winning trainer James Fanshawe. “We didn't have the smoothest run going to [Royal] Ascot, then we had a small problem after that and before his next race we had the coughing. My son Tom rides him out every day so it has been a good team effort and it's great when you think they are right and they perform like that. He's owned by a syndicate set up by my wife, there are 10 shares and it enables people to get involved in a horse like this. It's great that he's a half-brother to Deacon Blues who won this in 2011. It was a hot race, I walked the course and in the past you've wanted to be drawn high, but I was quite happy we were low today.”
Richard Fahey was understandably delighted with the effort of runner-up Growl (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and said, “Some don't realise how hard it is to win the Ayr Gold Cup. It was a cracking run today and it didn't look like it was a fluke. [Jockey] Graham [Lee] said he was happy and I'm not saying he should have won, but he didn't get a clear passage. We just might take him to Dubai, he's a legend of a horse.” Kevin Ryan, trainer of third-placed Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), was similarly pleased and added, “Brando's had 16 runs and has already won over £300,000 in prize-money. [Jockey] Tom [Eaves] felt the ground dried out a little bit and, if the rain had come and it was easy ground, it could have made all the difference. Considering where he started from this season, to run in this level of race at this time of year, shows how far he's come. He's had a long season and will be exciting next year.”
The Tin Man is a half-brother to former James Fanshawe incumbent Deacon Blues (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), a dual highweight who also bagged a career high in the inaugural running of this contest when it was a Group 2 event in 2011; MGSW G1 Lockinge S. runner-up Warningford (GB) (Warning {GB}), another former Fanshawe trainee; and the dual stakes-placed Holley Shiftwell (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}). His younger siblings include the 2-year-old colt Hilario (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}), who shed maiden status at Kempton last month, a yearling filly by Sepoy (Aus) and a colt foal by Poet's Voice (GB).
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