Sprint Horse Of The Year: 5f

My speciality is sprint distances, any races at five or six furlongs fall into this category. Although I’m happy to bet on any grade of racing, at this time of year it is nice to reminisce over the outstanding performances of the turf season.

I’m fortunate enough, or nerdy enough, depending on your opinion, to compile my own speed ratings for every UK sprint race. These are the performances I rated the best.

Five Furlongs Top Performances:

=  1st Sole Power (Temple Stakes Haydock 21st May 2011)
= 1st Tangerine Trees (Palace House Newmarket 30th April 2011)
= 3rd at least ten performances reached the same level

It is extremely tight at the top of the five furlong sprinting division and behind the top two it was almost impossible to separate a whole host of performances. Both the King’s Stand and Nunthorpe looked below par, especially considering their Group One tags. Hamish McGonagall finished second in the latter, proving the gap between top handicapper and Group One sprinter isn’t very big, especially at the minimum distance.

Honourable Mentions
Masmah made the step up from handicapper to Group Two level with a win at Glorious Goodwood in the King George Stakes. Unfortunately he got worked up at Longchamp and never gave his true running in the Abbaye. He will be six next year and in his prime.

Five Furlong Horse Of The Year: Sole Power
He was a shock 100/1 winner of the Nunthorpe in 2010 but he proved his doubters wrong this season. The Temple Stakes was the highlight and the only time all season that he got good to firm ground and the strong pace he desperately needs. Although it was his only win of the year, his third place at the Abbaye deserves a mention. In a race that always goes to front-runners he almost overcame the pace bias to finish a highly creditable third, only a head behind the winner. Third last at the halfway stage, watch the horse in the white scythe through the field.