Unbeaten Twilight Son Takes Sprint Cup

Twilight Son had to call upon all his reserves in the closing strides to hold off fast-finishing Strath Burn and keep his perfect record untarnished in the Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) Sept. 5 at Haydock Park. 

 

Twilight Sun was prominent early and led with a quarter mile to run before Magical Memory drove past to his inside to lead in the final furlong. The winner lengthened stride in deep stretch and drew even with Magical Memory before Strath Burn, showing thrilling acceleration down the center of the track, ranged up in the final 100 yards. Twilight Son made a final desperate lunge for Fergus Sweeney to win by a short head in a rousing three-horse finish. 

 

Strath Burn, off at 33-1 odds, was second, with Magical Memory holding for third, three-quarters of a length back in third. Last year's Sprint Cup victor G Force finished fourth, another 2 3/4 lengths back.

 

Twilight Son, making his stakes debut, extended his unbeaten record to five wins. He covered the distance in 1:12.86 on good turf at 10-1 odds. 

 

The son of Kyllachy is trained by Henry Candy for breeder Godfrey Wilson. Wilson races him in partnership with Cheveley Park Stud, which bought the majority share in the colt this summer. Cheveley Park Stud stands Kyllachy, a prominent sire of sprinters. 

 

Twilight Son is out of the sprint-winning Bin Ajwaad mare Twilight Mistress, who has produced six winners from as many starters, including group-winning sprinter Music Master (Piccolo), third in last year's Sprint Cup for Candy and Wilson.

 

Gordon Lord Byron, the 2013 Sprint Cup victor, and Adaay, the co-favorites at 9-2, finished a respective 10th and ninth in the 10-horse field.