Exceed And Excel's Montassib Battles to Sprint Cup Glory

The Montassib Partnership's selectively campaigned 6-year-old gelding Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}–Felwah {GB}, by Aqlaam {GB}) notched a first pattern-race triumph in June's G3 Chipchase Stakes and outstripped all prior form to claim a career high in a thrilling renewal of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The 25-1 outsider found a modicum of cover after an alert getaway and occupied a slot in rear through the initial fractions of this straight six-furlong contest. Nudged closer once past halfway, he came under sterner urging when moving into contention approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) by a head in a bobbing finish. Montassib's William Haggas-trained stablemate Unequal Love (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) kept on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third.

“This is my first Group 1 for Mr Haggas, who's supported me since I was a kid, and I dedicate this race to Stefano [Cherchi], who we lost earlier this year,” said winning rider Cieren Fallon. “Mr Haggas has been like a father to me in the sport and without him and Maureen I wouldn't be in the position I'm in today. With all my jockey coaches and everyone who's helped me get me to where I am, I'm just very lucky and very blessed to be in this position and getting on good horses. It's incredible, my family is here and it's great to ride a Group 1 winner for the boss, so it is special.

Reflecting on Montassib's performance, Fallon added, “There was some pace in the race on my side and I was very confident after Oisin [Murphy] won the race before from that side of the track. I just had to bide my time and wait for the right gaps. We got the gaps and off he went, but he's a horse that does the bare minimum. He is a joy to ride and you have just got to get the splits. In a big field like today, I wasn't going to take any risk by going on the inside. I had horses to aim at and I had some daylight at the end. It's been an up-and-down season, I was out at the start with my leg [injury] and then I came back and things were going really well before I broke my back and had a month out at a crucial part of the season. I have been lucky enough to ride some great horses since I came back and today is just so special.”

Haggas, who was saddling his first Haydock Sprint Cup winner, commented, “I would have laughed if you'd said I was going to have a first and third today. I thought Unequal Love might run well, but I wasn't expecting Montassib to enjoy the ground. I thought they were both drawn away from the action and we relied on Bucanero Fuerte going forward, which he did. Unequal Love was always travelling well and Cieren had to get after Montassib. I think, on softer ground, they would come back to him and that would suit him better. I am delighted he has won a big one today. Unequal Love is a lovely filly who is very genuine. It all went wrong last time, but she won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot with a big weight and a filly has never done that. She hasn't won a Group race yet, so she needs to do that. Montassib is the most genuine horse at home. Alison Samuel, who rides him every day, is from Wales and never stops talking. She has been singing his praises for so long and has done a great job with him. Cieren thinks there is always more to come and if the trainer hadn't run him over seven furlongs and a mile as a young horse then he would have done really well. He had a heart condition as a 2-year-old and didn't run as a 3-year-old, but patience has paid off with him. The [G1 British] Champions Sprint at Ascot will be next and you would think it should suit him.”

James Fanshawe was satisfied with the career-best effort of runner-up Kind Of Blue and said, “He ran very well and I'm really pleased with him. He looked like he was going really well at the furlong pole and has run a great race. He has come an awful long way and I think what has helped him today is a bit easier ground whereas the last three times it has been a bit quick for him. He is getting the hang of it and is a very exciting horse to have. I would say Ascot next month for the [G1] Champions Sprint will be good timing for him.”

Montassib wins the G1 @Betfair Sprint Cup, leading home a 1-3 for William Haggas @haydockraces 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IUKhmX27Ax

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 7, 2024

Pedigree Notes

Montassib is the third foal and leading performer produced by four-time winner Felwah (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}), herself out of an unraced sibling of dual Group 3 victrix Lady Gloria (GB) (Diktat {GB}) and Listed Snowdrop Stakes third Light And Shade (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}). Felwah's third dam Tarf (Diesis {GB}) is a daughter of Listed Hopeful Stakes winner and G3 Flying Five Stakes runner-up Tadwin (GB) (Never So Bold {Ire}), who is also responsible for G3 Queen Mary Stakes victrix Nadwah (Shadeed) and Nadwah's G3 Polar Cup-winning full-brother Musadif.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP STAKES-G1, £413,500, Haydock, 9-7, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:10.31, gd.
1–MONTASSIB (GB), 131, g, 6, by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Felwah (GB), by Aqlaam (GB)
2nd Dam: Efisio's Star (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Tara Moon (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-The Montassib Partnership; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Cieren Fallon. £234,496. Lifetime Record: 19-8-1-0, $570,626. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kind Of Blue (GB), 129, c, 3, Blue Point (Ire)–Blues Sister (GB), by Compton Place (GB). TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Michelle Morris, Jan Hopper & Peter Hopper; B-Mr & Mrs M Morris, Mr & Mrs P Hopper (GB); T-James Fanshawe. £88,903.
3–Unequal Love (GB), 128, f, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Heavenly Dawn (GB), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £44,493.
Margins: HD, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 25.00, 14.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Vadream (GB), Flora Of Bermuda (Ire), Bucanero Fuerte (GB), Swingalong (Ire), Elite Status (GB), Moss Tucker (Ire), Jasour (GB), Spycatcher (Ire), Shouldvebeenaring (GB), Inisherin (GB), Givemethebeatboys (Ire), Annaf (Ire), Art Power (Ire).