Deacon Blues took the lead to win the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 2) over French filly Wizz Kid
(head only visible on left) and Libranno next to her in yellow and green and Royal Rock in red.                  
©Photo David Hastings


France sent two of its exceptional sprinting fillies to compete in the £250,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 2), 6f for 3yo+, on Turf.

Freddy Head's Moonlight Cloud (Invincible Spirit IRE) blew away James Fanshaw's Society Rock in Deauville.  Her fearsome reputation earned her favouritism at 100/30. 

Wizz Kid IRE (Whipper USA) did not have as much luck this year being hampered in both the Nunthorpe and  Prix de l'Abbaye.  Neither her trainer Robert Collet nor owners at Ballylinch Stud ever lost faith in her. 

Despite their talent, Fanshaw had Deacon Blues (Compton Place) who has now won 5 of his last 6 races this year at four.

The colt was very impressive in the pre-parade ring brimming with energy and prancing on his toes. 

Once he took the lead in the race, no others had a chance especially with Johnny Murtagh on board. 

Moonlight Cloud failed to fire ending the race in fifth, but the little three-year-old Wizz Kid got second after an amazing 41.67 mph in her 4th furlong from home (faster than Frankel at his best on the day). 

She was 1½ lengths behind Deacon Blues and Richard Hannon's Libranno (Librettist USA) third by a neck, Royal Rock (Sakhee USA) fourth by a nose and Moonlight Cloud was 2 lengths behind.

Both Wizz Kid and Deacon Blues will race again next year.  She will be rewarded at the end of her career with a date with Ballylinch's new stallion Dream Ahead USA (Diktat) who won the Darley Sprint Cup and the Prix de la Foret.

Chris Wall's seven-year-old gelding Royal Rock will try for the Hong Kong Sprint in nominated.

Pity geldings do not have the same perks.


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