Starman Retirement Puts Sprint Crown up For Grabs

Early retirement for ante-post favorite Starman  coupled with the absence of King's Stand (G1) star Oxted  means the stage is set for a new sprinting champion. A maximum field of 20 runners will assemble at the six-furlong start of the Oct. 16 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) for the first time since 2015 in undeniably the best betting heat of the day.

The magic number is 120. A performance worthy of that Racing Post Rating has been good enough to win nine of the last 10 runnings of the Champions Sprint Stakes. The exception is Twilight Son , who ran to the required mark in 2015 but bumped into Muhaarar, the best winner of this race since its inauguration. So how many of these contenders are capable of achieving that landmark rating?

On the evidence to date, the answer is just two. Art Power  hit the mark with a career-best display in the William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes (G3) at the Curragh last month, while Rohaan 's last-to-first victory in the Wokingham saw him take the leap up to group 1 standard.

Lightly raced 3-year-olds Creative Force  and Minzaal  must sit at the top of the likely progression shortlist. The former achieved an RPR of 116 when fifth behind Starman in the Darley July Cup (G1), but was perhaps seen to best effect in the Jersey (G3) and Unibet Lennox Stakes (G2) over seven furlongs.

Minzaal boasts intriguing 3-year-old form and ran creditably on his sole start against his elders in the Oakman Group Rous Stakes this month. Quicker ground will help his cause.

Drying conditions certainly won't be ideal for last year's winner, Glen Shiel , whose top three performances have come on soft ground. First-time blinkers are fitted in the hope of sharpening up the 7-year-old. Brando , two years his senior, will make a sixth bid at Champions Sprint glory.

Fillies Happy Romance  and Vadream  boast a high level of consistency and are in receipt of the four-pound sex allowance, while Dragon Symbol  looks to finally break through in a group race after six creditable efforts this summer. He only began his career in March but has already run 10 times.

Vadream Camp Fear No One

David Egan has just two rides on the Champions Day card and warms up for the Champion Stakes favorite, in which he partners favorite Mishriff , on Vadream.

The former champion apprentice has had just three rides for trainer Charlie Fellowes, winning on two of them, including when steering Vadream to victory in the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (G3) over course and distance a fortnight ago.

Egan said: "It's an open-looking race and a big call by the owners to supplement her into the race. I only got the call-up to ride the filly at Ascot as Jamie Spencer had to ride at Newmarket that day but she handled the track and ease in the ground well. This is the next step up but she's a progressive type."

Fellowes believes the sprint is wide open following the retirement of July Cup winner Starman as he targets his first group 1 success.

He said: "I feel like the race has been blown wide open with Starman not running. I think you can pick holes in every other horse in the race."