G Force Unstoppable in Haydock's Sprint Cup
Description:
G Force rallied powerfully between rivals and collared last year's winner Gordon Lord Byron in the closing stages to capture the Betfred Sprint Cup (Eng-I) Sept. 6 at Haydock.
Gordon Lord Byron grabbed the lead a quarter-mile out, but Middleham Park Racing's G Force shot through a gap approaching the furlong mark and wore down the leader, winning by three-quarters of a length under Daniel Tudhope.
Gordon Lord Byron held for second from third-place finisher Music Master, who was 1 1/2 lengths back. Sole Power, the 5-2 favorite, once again found six furlongs beyond his scope and finished fourth, another half-length back.
G Force, at 11-1 odds, covered the six furlongs in 1:12.95 on good to soft turf, tallying his first stakes win.
A 3-year-old son of Tamayuz, G Force was sixth to Sole Power in the Coolmore Nunthorpe (Eng-I) Aug. 22 in his previous start and entered the Sprint Cup seeking his first stakes win. He owned of a pair of placings in listed stakes at Sandown and York in June and July, but turned in a career-defining performance against his elders in the Sprint Cup while also trying six furlongs for the first time.
"I had every faith in this horse—I knew he had everything," Tudhope told Racing Post while savoring his first group I win. "He is only a 3-year-old and he showed some class. He has a massive heart and a great turn of foot. He is a class horse and today he got the breaks."
Trainer David O'Meara's confidence in G Force also was rewarded, as he too won at the group I level for the first time.
"We have always said this horse was very good," he said. "He hasn't got the rub of the green a couple of times this year but we had every faith that he would be able to go and do this one day."
G Force started his career for Qatar Racing and trainer Richard Hannon Sr., who sold him for 25,000 guineas at auction last fall following a runner-up finish in his career debut at Newbury. He won his first two starts for his new connections to begin this season when taking five-furlong races at Newcastle and York in April and May.
The first group I winner for sire Tamayuz, G Force has a 3-2-1 record from eight career starts. He was bred in Ireland by Kildaragh Stud and Twelve Oaks Stud from the Common Grounds mare Flanders, a stakes winner who was second in the 1999 King's Stand (gr. II) at Royal Ascot.
G Force is a half brother to group III winner Louvain, who is the dam of French classic winner Flotilla, winner of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT). The family also includes elite sprinter Lethal Force.