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Champions Day for Sprint Cup fourth Swingalong

3 minute read

Summer Stakes winner Swingalong will head to Ascot for the British Champions Sprint Stakes following her brave fourth in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.

SWINGALONG.
SWINGALONG. Picture: Healy Racing

The three-year-old filly was the only horse in the sixteen-runner field to race on the near-side under jockey Clifford Lee and ran on well to finish fourth behind Regional.

A winner of the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York in July, Swingalong arguably produced a better performance when two-lengths third in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup behind Shaquille at Royal Ascot, over the same course and distance as the British Champions Sprint Stakes.

"It was a shame. I walked the track pretty comprehensively because of Spycatcher [withdrawn due to unsuitable ground] and there was a track of ground there that Swingalong ran on that was as quick as anywhere on the track," said trainer Karl Burke.

"I couldn't believe that nothing came with us. As usual they all followed the main bunch and it was unfortunate because while she's a good front-running filly, she will extend when a horse comes to her.

"If she had something chasing her or coming to challenge her, I'm sure she could have found another length or so, which would have put us absolutely bang there.

"She ran an absolute cracker and she's got every chance of winning a Group One somewhere along the line. I think the plan at the moment is to leave her in training next year, which is great.

"The plan is to go to Champions Day. Hopefully the ground doesn't come up too soft, but she loves Ascot and if she turns up there in the same form on good ground, she'll run her usual big race."

Swingalong is widely available at 16/1 for the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on 21 October.


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