Red Impression Sets Track Record At Lingfield For Roger Charlton (24th November)

Blistering speed. You don't hear those words ''Track Record'' bandied around too often. Rightly so. Perhaps even more uncommon hearing a two-year-old broke the course record on her second start. 

Well, Roger Charlton has a lot to smile about with his super-impressive filly Red Impression, who is making the headlines. This grey daughter of Dark Angel, out of a debut-winning mare, was held in high regard before making her racecourse bow. She was backed like defeat was out of the question (13/8f) and ''scooted clear final furlong'' to win by over three lengths. The form of that race has been franked with the second and fourth winning since. 

This homebred, in the ownership of K. Abdullah, made her return over the same distance at Lingfield, when starting 8/15f. The 10-strong field didn't look the strongest of affairs with two major opponents if the betting was to be believed. Considering Red Impression was taking on colts and shouldering a win penalty this was going to be a fair challenge. 

However, nothing could have been further from the truth. The fill was held up behind Journey Of Life, waiting to pounce, and literally flew past Charlie Appleby's colt without taking a breath. 

She waltzed clear to win by six lengths capturing race comments: 

''Chased leaders, went 2nd and closing on clear leader over 2f out, led 1f out, soon shaken and readily went clear, not extended (op 2/5 tchd 4/7)''

The impressive part is a track record time: 1m 9.76s

Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) Archive (Just Like Wikipedia)

Sprinterstogo has been chomping at the bit since the revamp. However, it needs a focus. 

Sure, we will be detailing lots of sprint race action but we need something that sets us apart from the general blogs which say a bit about this and that...

We need a niche. 

And so we have it. What better sprint to focus our attention than the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) at York. It has a rich history- some exceptional thoroughbreds. 

The likes of Dayjur (1990) just for starters.

I'm sure all readers have their favourites. If you want to leave a comment feel free to detail your memory. 

So what are we going to detail about the Nunthorpe Stakes? Winner, of course. And, perhaps, one or two runner-ups as they are often as deserving as those who get sunburnt from the flash of cameras. 

We are paying a top writer to make us an archive of some of the biggest winners. 

Just for those who don't know much about this great race, here are the basics.

Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) 

Inaugurated: 1922
Distance: 5f 
Race type: Flat/turf
Qualification: 2yo and up 


Bio: Did you know that the Nunthorpe Stakes was first run in 1903. It was a low-grade affair being at Selling class. 

Since 2011 the Nunthorpe Stakes has been part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge with the winner gaining the automatic right to compete in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. 

Two horses have won the race 3 times: Tag End (1928 - 1930), Sharpo (1980 - 1981)

Lester Piggott has won the most times from Right Boy (1958) - Solinus (1978) 

Chelmsford Void Race Fiasco Leads to Meeting Abandoned

Looks like someone forgot to put a 50p in the electric meter.

Well, that's what happened to punters as Chelmsford fell into darkness. 

The 5:15 Extra Places At Sprinterstogo.co.uk Handicap over 7f.

Unlucky punters were left fuming when a power cut meant the race was void as Florencio, trained by Jamie Osborne, won the race. However, it was void. 

The remainder of the meeting abandoned.

However, ''winning'' trainer Jamie Osborne insisted Florenico, owned by globetrotting Melbourne 10 should have taken the prize. In fact, Osborne recorded the win on his phone, ridden by Nicole Currie.

The trainers said: ''I am annoyed. It's blatantly obvious to me and the racegoers watching just who finished first, second, third and fourth.'' 

"They probably could have limited the damage of this by allowing the result to stand but the stewards had no interest in seeing my film, and apparently the rule is that if the judge can't determine the first four home, then the race has to be void."

However, there were reports that some riders eased their mounts. While Luke Morris and P J McDonald reported their horses were spooked. 

The official inquiry into voiding the race stated: "The judge was interviewed. The judge explained that due to insufficient light he was not able to verify the full result. The stewards were unable to view the last two furlongs of the race and, taking into consideration the judge’s evidence, the stewards declared the race void."

There was some good fortune to connections if not punters when Osborne Tweeted that the racecourse had honoured the win prize money. 

"Just when you think you have seen it all in racing! It's lucky that Florencio, the winner, is owned by the Melbourne Ten, me and nine of my mates. "I am sure the boys will probably have another drink and celebrate like they've had a winner."

Asked about how Currie had seen things, Osborne added: "It would take more than a little darkness to frighten her."

On behalf of @TheMelbourne10 I would like to thank @ChelmsfordCRC for honouring the prize money won by Florencio this evening.

— jamie osborne (@osbornejamie) November 13, 2018

Can You Remember Klute? (The World's Fastest Horse)

I know what you are thinking... 

That name sounds familiar. If you love your horse racing - it's there, trust me, dancing about the grey matter. Synaptic nerves firing like an old Ford Escort on a frosty morning. The popping sound of the exhaust: Klute, Klute, Klute...

Yes, I have a vivid imagination. 

However, do you remember? I must admit I had to turn right at the traffic lights of the frontal lobe (images of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) to recall this story that hit the headlines about a racehorse called Klute. Something to do with him/her (I can't remember the beasts sex at the time) being, wait for it, the fastest horse to ever set foot on God's earth since Adam & Eve. 

We are going back in time to dig up the remnants of this story. It was 1988. The venue Haydock Park. 

The event was billed - 

The World Speed Challenge 

The background to Klute being the ''fastest horse in the world'' had been sneered at by trainers. It was understandable. Why? Because Klute was raised as a pet and never raced officially except for fun on the beach. However, he had seemingly run a remarkably fast half furlong at Haydock Park clocking a world record of 44.91mph. This beat the former record set by a Mexican quarter horse back in 1945. That Speedy Gonzales went 43.26 (miles to the gallon). 

Whether people liked it or not, Klute had his name in the Guineas Book of Records. Official. His proud owner and trainer, Lesley Bruce, was confident Klute could stand his ground against the best racehorses and she wasn't frightened to take them on. 

So the contest was on!

12th August 1988 - 

5:15 Haydock -  Philip Cornes Match (The World Speed Challenge) 

Distance: 5f 

Going: Good

Klute would race against his sole rival So Careful, trained by Jack Berry, famous for wearing his lucky red shirt (pictured). 

Betting: 

So Careful - 1/9f 
Klute - 9/1 

Jockey: John Carroll
Jockey: Lesley Bruce

Race comments: So Careful: ''made all, soon clear, unchallenged. Klute: speed 2f, soon ridden and outpaced.''

Klute was beaten 25-lengths. 

A tearful Miss Lesley Bruce said: 

There was something wrong with him. He's been ill. 

Whether Klute had run a world record pace for the first half furlong (I'm not sure) but he was humiliated by So Careful who had an official rating of just 71. 

So Careful was a hard-as-nails horse who ran 38 times in her in a four-year career which saw her win 6 times. She achieved total earnings of £42,973. An all-time high official rating of 80 detailed a capable horse. 

The story of Klute made the headlines around the world. 

Whether Klute had been ill rumbled on for the next year. Klute and his reputation were left in tatters. But he wasn't done!

''In 1990, Klute would fight to save the day''

2:15 Catterick - Philip Cornes World Speed Challenge Match 

Venue: Catterick Bridge 

Distance: 5f

Going: Good to Firm 

Once again, Jack Berry would prove a worthy challenger in the shape of Valldemosa. The bookies had given up all hope on a Klute victory with Valldemosa 1/33f. Klute showing no support in the betting at 16/1. 

Race comment: Valldemosa ''Made all, ran on final furlong, easily''

Klute's title ''World Fastest Horse'' made a mockery. 

   

What about these two America speedsters: Secretariate (exceptional)

Did you bet on Klute?

Racehorses are getting quicker and quicker!

Racehorses are continuing to get quicker, a study of winning times spanning 165 years of racing indicates. This may come as a surprise to many in the racing industry who believe that racehorse speed has reached its limit. 

Researchers say more work is required to determine whether the increased speeds are due to breeding techniques or changes in training and riding. 

The study has been published in The Royal Society Journal Proceedings B. Previous studies had shown that racehorse speeds had not increased since 1950. Many in the race horse industry had concluded that thoroughbreds might have reached the limits of their speed. This raised the question as to whether it was worth horse owners paying large amounts of money to stud farms aiming to breed future winners. 

Patrick Sharman, a PhD student at Exeter University and race enthusiast, decided to take a closer look. He found that previous studies were not comprehensive. They only analysed the winning time of a small number of races. These studies included middle distance (8 to 12 furlongs) and long distance (14 to 20 furlongs) races, but excluded sprints (5 to 7 furlongs). Mr Sharman analysed the times from every single so-called elite race involving the very fastest horses between 1850 and 2012, and also included all race meetings since 1997. He found that there had been little improvement in speeds between 1910 and 1975. But since then there has been a steady improvement in sprint races. The average winning time for a six-furlong race over the past 15 years has been cut by more than a second - which is a huge amount by sprint standards! 

''A modern-day horse would beat a horse from the early 90s by seven horse lengths'' 

However, there was little, if any, improvement at middle and longer distances. Speed over endurance? Mr Sharman says that this could be due to the fact that horses are being bred for speed rather than endurance. If that is the case, then speeds at middle and long distances could also be improved if breeders changed their methods. 

The improvement could be explained by a change in riding techniques since the 1970s - with jockeys adopting Lester Piggott's style of riding with shortened stirrups or improved training methods. But Mr Sharman wonders why there has been no improvement in the longer distances.

"My hunch is that we are seeing a genetic change, with breeders focusing on speed rather than endurance," he told BBC News. "I don't believe that over the longer distances horses have reached their limit."

Dayjur: The Horse Who Jumped Shadows

Think of a sprinter...

 A horse so fast it captured the attention of fans across the globe. A class act crowned a champion but still, to this day, assessed with a measure of hard luck for an act that saw him lose a race he should have won.

For those who love their sprinters, there is only one horse who comes to mind. 

Dayjur.

He was born on the 6th February 1987. This American-bred son of Danzig out of a dam called Gold Beauty. Bred in Kentucky. Dayjur raced under the ownership of Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum. An expensive yearling purchase for that decade costing $1.65M. Considering such an outstanding horse had total earnings of £327,280 it details his incredible price tag. 

The association of Dayjur went hand-in-hand with his trainer Major Dick Hern, who had been seriously injured in a hunting accident in 1984 which left him wheelchair bound. Both man and horse had a will of steel. 

This brown horse made his two-year-old debut at Newbury on the 15th June 1989. His reputation was tall - he started 8/15f. He won ''easily'' by a length. However, his second race at Listed class didn't go to plan when he was beaten by half a length at odds of 8/13f by Rushmoore, trained by Clive Brittain. 

At the end of the two-year-old season, he had a wind operation (to improve his breathing).

In a relatively short career of eleven races, his three-year-old season would be his last. 

However, this season would give him credit as one of the greatest sprinters of all time but, in the process, break the heart of his trainer and race fans around the world. 

Once again, Dayjur suffered disappointment on his return to racing in 1990. Major Dick Hern had him earmarked for 2000 Guineas (which proved to be a mistake). Racing over 7f in the European Free Handicap saw him disappointing to finish seventh of ten runners. 

Plans were quickly changing. 

Dayjur was dropped back to 6f and given a confidence-boosting run at Nottingham. However, he was beaten a head by Tod, at Newbury. 

At this stage, he looked far from a supreme talent. 

The Major hadn't lost faith. In fact, he entered Dayjur for the Temple Stakes at Sandown over the minimum trip of 5f. 

His jockey, Willie Carson, led from start to finish - winning by two lengths in good style. 

Now connections knew they had a serious horse on their hands and all illusions of him racing beyond sprint distances were forgotten.

In June, he won the King's Stand at Royal Ascot by two-and-a-half lengths although Major Hern was concerned about soft ground. The runner-up, Ron's Victory, was many lengths clear of the third and then went on to frank the form by winning the Diadem Stakes by ten lengths. 

Dayjur was made 8/11f to win the Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) racing over 5f at York. He won by an easy four lengths and achieved a course record of 56:16. The Racing Post comment stated: ''very impressive''. (The only horse to beat his time is Borderleescott  (56:09) in 2008.) 

The latter part of Dayjur's career was coming to a conclusion. A few races to add to his credentials as being a true sprinting legend. 

In September, connections decided to attempt six furlongs in the Ladbroke Sprint Cup at Haydock. It was a stiff race with highly-rated Dead Certain a major opponent. Could Dayjur last the extra furlong? 

He led from start to finish. Going clear at the two-furlong pole, he held the late challenge of Royal Academy to win by one and a half lengths. 

To boost the form, Royal Academy went on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile in the United States. 

Dayjur won his final race in Europe when beating four rivals in the Prix de l'abbaye at Longchamp, France. 

Winning, and being eased at the line, Dayjur appeared to jump a shadow cast across the course!

By this time Dayjur had been heralded a sprinting sensation. He would represent Europe by travelling to the United States of America to contest the 1990 Breeders' Cup Sprint, at Belmont Park. A wide draw made life difficult. However, a gutsy Dayjur contested the lead and then headed Safely Kept and looked to have the race sealed. In the closing strides of the race (heartbreaking) Dayjur saw a shadow cast across the track and jumped losing momentum. Then, unbelievably, jumped another shadow at the finishing line. He lost by a neck as the filly took advantage of his ill fate. 

Dayjur Bio: (6th February 1987 - 25 September 2013)

Race record: 

11 runs, 7 wins, 3 seconds and unplaced on one occasion

Awards: 

British Horse of the Year 1990
European Champion Sprinter 1990 

What are your memories of this great sprinter? 

Related stories: Safely Kept Sprints From The Shadows To Defeat Dayjur

Related video: Dayjur King of Sprinters 

4:15 Chelmsford Racing Tips (13th November)

A ten-runner sprint over 6f on Standard going. A fair selection of two-year-olds, a few been given significant entries. 

Always go to see Mick Easterby have a decent horse. Not particularly known for his two-year-olds, he has hit something of a purple patch this last month or so with two or three juvenile winners. Jack Berry House pulled off a surprise when victory on debut when winning at Newcastle at odds of 80/1 (it wasn't a fluke). A fine judge of horses, Easterby started Brandy Spirit at the deep end when making this gelding's debut in an All-Weather Fast Track Qualifier. To most, it would seem a bold, if not foolish, escapade against quality opposition. However, this son of Charm Spirit - a 50,000 guinea breeze-up buy - was nibbled in the market from 50-1 - 33/1. Taking advantage of a few horses with win penalties may have been a wise move. This February foal dwelt but soon moved up with panache. Trouble in running didn't help his cause, but connections must have been pleased to see him hit the frame. The Racing Post comment ''promising'' detailed an exciting horse in the making. 

It's a rematch with an old adversary Fares Kodiac who was just half a length behind for Marco Botti. This is one of the better two-year-olds in the stable (a lean year). A nose-winner on debut and far from disgraced in this better company since. Has been entered at Listed class. 

Michael Bell has a fair number of juveniles in his stable this year. A few have proven very capable (Pretty Polianna, Lady Aria & James Watt). Regular, in the ownership of The Queen, ran well on debut when finished second at odds of 3-1. It wasn't a bad run next time out at Doncaster when fifth, although I had expected more. He drifted markedly in the betting, before having the corners chipped off near the death. Interesting to note connections are dropping this gelding back to six furlongs. 

Andrew Balding's Grandstand has raced five times to date with an element of success. The best of those efforts came when running at Windsor on his third start when second best, losing by one length. Looked to struggle on his last two starts at nursery class. An official rating of 76 detail a horse with the ability to win a race but susceptible to a horse with a touch of class. 

Legend Island has run twice for Ed Walker in the familiar red/black striped silks of owner P K Siu. 

Robert Cowell fields one of two debutantes. Turquoise Friendly is an Irish-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor. This 40,000 guineas breeze-up purchase is out of an unraced dam. The stable can win on debut although often difficult to pinpoint when. If backed it would add to confidence. 

The other horse making its racecourse bow is Patrick Chammings' Opportune Moment. This gelding is a son of Slade Power is out of an exceptionally good mare named Carry On Katie, who was trained by Jeremy Noseda/Saeed bin Suroor, winning her first three starts, including the Lowther Stakes (Group 2) & Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1). She returned in the ownership of Godolphin to compete at the 1000 Guineas, finishing sixth, although beaten just three lengths. Then retired to stud after a disappointment at Longchamp, France. This horse must have looked a weak link at the yearling sales selling for just 14,000 euros. Interesting to see what he can achieve on this debut. A wide draw is negative. 

Brains, Tunky and Isabel Red are best watched. 

Conclusion: An intriguing race. A couple of potentially decent juveniles in Brandy Spirit and Fares Kodiac. The latter is no slouch and a proven winner. These win penalties make life harder although he wasn't too far behind Mick Easterby's charge last time out. There was a lot to like about Brandy Spirit on that first start. It spoke well that connections plumped for that option because to many it looked illogical. There should be ample improvement although not much meat on the bone at 6/4. May drift in the betting, which could give some value. Regular needs to show more for dropping in trip. Opportune Moment is bred like an expensive horse but cost ''pennies'' at the sales.