Filly Quiet Reflection Sparkles in Sprint Cup

Three-year-old sprint filly Quiet Reflection took on older males Sept. 3 and rolled to her second group I victory of the year in the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Sent off the 7-2 favorite after the race-day scratch of Darley July Cup (Eng-I) winner Limato due the rain-sodden course condition, the daughter of Showcasing handled 13 rivals with in ease as she comfortably cruised to a 1 3/4-length triumph over The Tin Man, withJuly Cup runner-up Suedois third.

Winner of the Commonwealth Cup (Eng-I) in June at Royal Ascot, Quiet Reflection was subsequently third in the July Cup and took full advantage of Limato's absence Saturday.  

Rating quite strongly midfield early on for former jumps jockey and regular pilot Dougie Costello, Quiet Reflection instantly responded when given the cue a furlong out. Quickening to the front, she pulled away to cross the line clear of The Tin Man, who missed the break but managed second inside the final furlong.

Quiet Reflection covered six furlongs on soft ground in 1:13.45. She will be pointed to Ascot for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Oct. 15.

"That was a great performance. I knew she'd improved and strengthened," trainer Karl Burke said of the filly, who is owned by racing syndicate Ontoawinner. "She's such a straightforward filly. I know we wanted a bit of rain, but I was a bit worried when it got this soft as I thought it might play into the hands of the older horses. She's just got speed to burn. She travels well and is so relaxed. She blows when she works but when she runs she doesn't turn a hair.

"The whole team have done a great job, and there's the farrier Andy Grant. He's done a fantastic job all year with her feet. They haven't been the best."

Burke signed the £44,000 ticket for Quiet Reflection when she was a 2-year-old at the 2015 Doncaster April sale. She won two stakes that year, including a group III at Newmarket. Bred in Great Britain by Springcombe Park Stud from the Haafhd mare My Delirium, she has seven wins and a third from nine starts, including also including the Sandy Lane (Eng-II) at Haydock in her outing prior to the Commonwealth Cup. 

James Fanshawe was delighted with the performance of The Tin Man, a last-out victor in the Hackwood Stakes (Eng-III) in July at Newbury. The 4-year-old Equiano gelding is set for a rematch with Quiet Reflection at Ascot.

"He ran really well. Obviously we were concerned about the ground, but he's run with great credit," he said.