Sprinter Sacre

Sprinter Sacre

Sprinter Sacre at Sandown in April 2012.
Sire Network
Grandsire Monsun
Dam Fatima III
Damsire Bayolidaan
Sex Gelding
Foaled 23 April 2006
Country France
Colour Bay or Brown
Breeder Christophe Masle
Owner Caroline Mould
Trainer Nicky Henderson
Record 20: 14-3-1
Earnings £778,098
Major wins
Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (2011)
Game Spirit Chase (2012)
Arkle Challenge Trophy (2012)
Maghull Novices' Chase (2012)
Tingle Creek Chase (2012)
Victor Chandler Chase (2013)
Queen Mother Champion Chase (2013)
Melling Chase (2013)
Punchestown Champion Chase (2013)

Sprinter Sacre (foaled 23 April 2006) is a French-bred, British-trained Selle Francais racehorse. He currently has the third highest ever Timeform steeplechase rating of 192p, behind only Arkle on 212 and Flyingbolt on 210 as their highest in the modern era.

Background

Sprinter Sacre is a dark brown horse sired by the German Thoroughbred stallion Network, whose progeny also include the French steeplechaser Rubi Ball (Prix La Haye Jousselin) and the Irish-trained Rubi Light (John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase).[1] His dam, Fatima III was a Selle Francais mare.

Racing career

2009/2010: National Hunt Flat

Sprinter Sacre made his first appearance in a National Hunt Flat race at Ascot in February 2010. Ridden by Barry Geraghty, he took the lead a furlong from the finish and held the late challenge of King of the Night to win by a nose.[2] Two months later he was sent to Ayr where he won a similar event by 4 lengths without being extended.[3]

2010/2011: Novice Hurdles

In November, Sprinter Sacre contested his first jump race, a novice hurdle over two and a half miles at Ascot. He started 6/5 favourite and finished second to the six-year-old Frascati Park. After a break of three months, he reappeared in a two-mile novices' hurdle at Ffos Las and won by 10 lengths.[4] Two weeks later he won a hurdle race at Ascot by 7 lengths "on the bridle"[5] and was then sent to the Cheltenham Festival for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Ridden by Tony McCoy, Sprinter Sacre took the lead three hurdles from the finish but hit the last obstacle and faded to finish third to Al Ferof and Spirit Son.

2011/2012: Novice Chases

Sprinter Sacre made his first appearance in a steeplechase at Doncaster in December 2011. He started at odds of 2/9 and won by 24 lengths from Lightening Rod.[6] At the end of December, he was moved up to Grade II class for the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton in which he was matched against Peddlers Cross, the runner-up in the 2011 Champion Hurdle. Sprinter Sacre led from the start and drew clear in the closing stages to win by 16 lengths.[7] The Daily Mail described his jumping as "thrilling" and "spectacular" whilst Barry Geraghty called him "frighteningly good... one of the best I have ever sat on".[8]

In February 2012, Sprinter Sacre moved out of novice company to take on more experienced chasers in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Ridden by Barry Geraghty, he took the lead at half way and recorded a 6-length win from French Opera at odds of 2/5.[9] Sprinter Sacre was then sent to Cheltenham for the Arkle Challenge Trophy where his rivals included Al Ferof, Menorah and Cue Card. Taking the lead four fences from the finish, he was never in danger and won by 7 lengths despite being eased in the closing stages.[10] Geraghty described the race as the equivalent of a "schooling session" and described the horse as "the special one".[11] The Guardian called the performance "scintillating" and described the winner as being "simply in a league of his own".[12] Only three horses appeared to challenge Sprinter Sacre in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree a month later. He started at odds of 1/7 and "made mincemeat"[13] of his rivals recording a very impressive 13 lengths win from Toubab.[14] After the race, Henderson was effusive in his praise, calling him "frightening... extraordinary... he has this aura about him."[13]

2012/2013: Senior Chases

Sprinter Sacre made his first appearance of the new season on 8 December in the Grade I Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, in which he was opposed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Sanctuaire, who had won all three of his steeplechases including the Celebration Chase. Sanctuaire set a strong pace and opened up a long lead, but Sprinter Sacre took up the lead four fences from home and drew steadily clear to win by 15 lengths. His next run was scheduled to take place in the Grade I Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on 19 January, but the race meeting was abandoned and rescheduled for Cheltenham a week later. Starting at odds of 1/5, Sprinter Sacre took the lead at the seventh fence, drew clear from his six opponents and won by 14 lengths from the 50/1 outsider Mad Moose. Sprinter Sacre won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on 13 March starting at odds of 1/4 favourite, the shortest price at the Cheltenham festival since the great Arkle won his 3rd Cheltenham Gold Cup at 1/10. He cruised for 12 furlongs and then, 4 out, joined the front running Sizing Europe who set a fast pace throughout. With Geraghty sitting motionless, he won from Sizing Europe without ever being ridden out[15] by 19 lengths to claim his 8th win in 8 attempts over fences. On 5 April 2013, he lined up against four rivals in the John Smiths Melling Chase in his first attempt over fences at 2 1/2 miles. Sprinter Sacre was sent off 1/3 favourite and won by 4 1/2 lengths from Ryanair Chase winner Cue Card. Back in third place, beaten a further 19 lengths, was crack Irish contender Flemenstar.[16][17][18] On 23 April, he extended his unbeaten chase record to 10 as he defeated Sizing Europe by five lengths in the Punchestown Champion Chase.[19] He became the first horse since Istabraq in 1999 to win at all three major spring jumping Festivals, Punchestown, Cheltenham and Aintree. [20]

2013/2014: Senior Chases

On his first appearance of the next season, Sprinter Sacre started 2/9 favourite for Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse on 27 December. After tracking the leaders in the early stages he began to struggle at the seventh fence and was quickly pulled up by Geraghty. Post-race tests revealed that the horse was suffering from an irregular heartbeat.[21] On 23 February 2014 Henderson announced that the gelding had recovered from his heart problems but would miss the rest of the season as he was "not working with his usual brilliance".[22]

2014/2015: Senior Chases

Sprinter Sacre missed a planned run in the Tingle Creek Trophy, but performed well in a racecourse gallop at Newbury in late December. After an absence of over a year, the gelding returned in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on 17 January. After racing in fourth place for most of the way he moved up to take the lead in the straight but was overtaken approaching the final fence and finished second to Dodging Bullets. At the Cheltenham Festival 11 March 2015 started favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase but faded by the last two jumps and pulled up in a race won by Dodging Bullets. The gelding was treated for a back problem following the race and returned to contest the Celebration Chase at Sandown on 25 April. He produced a much better effort without reproducing his best form, finishing second of the seven runners behind Special Tiara.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Sprinter Sacre (FR), bay or brown gelding, 2006
Sire
Network (GER)
1997		 Monsun
1990		 Koenigsstuhl Dschingis Khan
Koenigskronung
Mosella Surumu
Monasia
Note
1977		 Reliance Tantieme
Relance
Nicotiana Naras
Nina
Dam
Fatima III (FR)
1993		 Bayolidaan
1984		 Kamaridaan Djakao
Diamond Drop
Bayonne Stymphale
Belsta
Viva Sacree
1987		 Maiymad Rheingold
Miss Melody
Kiki Sacree Edellic
Amie Sacree

References

  1. ↑ "Network Stud Record". Bloodstock.racingpost.com. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  2. ↑ "GARDINER & THEOBALD STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  3. ↑ "ASHLEYBANK INVESTMENTS STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  4. ↑ "WILLIAMHILL.COM NOVICES' HURDLE". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  5. ↑ "TRISOFT "NATIONAL HUNT" NOVICES' HURDLE". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  6. ↑ "ATTEYS SOLICITORS NOVICES' CHASE". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  7. ↑ "Wayward Lad Novices' Chase". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  8. ↑ "Sprinter Sacre throws down Arkle marker". London: Daily Mail. 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  9. ↑ "Game Spirit Chase". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  10. ↑ "Arkle Challenge Trophy". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  11. ↑ Cheltenham Festival (2012-03-14). "Sprinter Sacre a special one as novice lights up dark opening day". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  12. ↑ Press Association (2012-03-13). "Barry Geraghty rides Sprinter Sacre to dominant win". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "SPRINTER SACRE SLAYS MAGHULL THREE". Sporting Life. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  14. ↑ "Maghull Novices' Chase". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
  15. ↑ Wood, Greg (13 March 2013). "Sprinter Sacre supreme in Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival". Guardian (London). Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  16. ↑ Wood, Greg (13 March 2013). "Sprinter Sacre is Pelé of Cheltenham Festival, says Barry Geraghty". Guardian (London). Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "As promised, Sprinter Sacre delivered stars, each one brighter than the last at Cheltenham Festival". The Independent (London). 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  18. ↑ Hayward, Paul (13 March 2013). "Sprinter Sacre storms to victory in Queen Mother Champion Chase by 20 lengths". Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  19. ↑ Townend, Marcus (23 April 2013). "Champion again! Sprinter Sacre completes spring treble with victory at Punchestown". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  20. ↑ Paley, Tony (23 April 2013). "Sprinter Sacre beats Sizing Europe in Champion Chase at Punchestown". Guardian (London). Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  21. ↑ Marcus Townend (28 December 2013). "Tests confirm Sprinter Sacre has irregular heartbeat". Mail Online.
  22. ↑ Marcus Armytage (24 February 2014). "Sprinter Sacre ruled out of Cheltenham Festival after disappointing Nicky Henderson in work at home". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2015.

External links