The five fastest winners of the Darley July Cup at Newmarket

Tom ReedTom Reed9 July 2021
Lethal Force ridden by Adam Kirby wins the Darley July Cup

Lethal Force ridden by Adam Kirby wins the Darley July Cup

Run at Newmarket, often over quick ground, the July Cup can signpost the horse that will end the season as Champion European sprinter. Planet Sport checks out the fastest ever winners.

This six furlong dash at British Flat racing headquarters had produced some super quick winners over the years including Mozart and Oasis Dream.

Planet Sport readies its stopwatch to capture the fastest ever winners of the July Cup.

You can also place a bet on this year's July Cup with Planet Sport Bet.

5. Fleeting Spirit (Time 1.09.58)

The lightning fast filly Fleeting Spirit had revenge on her mind after a close third finish in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2008.
Taking on Equiano and Takeover Target, her male vanquishers from Ascot, Jeremy Noseda's female was nudged in from 16/1 to 12/1 at the off for the July Cup at Newmarket.
In her way were some of the best in the sprint world with opposition from the Aussie raiders Takeover Target and the favourite Scenic Blast but Fleeting Spirit was certainly not backwards in coming forwards.
Racing keenly throughout, Fleeting Spirit was about to show the boys who was boss and she veered left and then right in the run-in to get her head in front.
The filly survived a stewards' inquiry despite impeding the second placed Main Aim but with a lickety-split time of 1.09.58, her impact was more than fleeting.

4. Stravinsky (1.09.51)

Although highly regarded by Aidan O'Brien, Stravinsky's road to July Cup glory in 1999 was less than straightforward.
Initially campaigned over a longer seven furlong trip, Stravinsky was disqualified in the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp for swerving over the track in only his second start.
A disappointing third in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket when favourite was hardly good preparation for a tilt at the July Cup but the horse named after the famous composer was about to reach a crescendo.
While trackside punters were reaching for the sun hats on the Newmarket July course, Stravinsky was fitted with a visor and the headgear left his rivals feeling the heat.
Mick Kinane held up the Ballydoyle three-year-old, but let rip at the one furlong pole as Stravinsky streaked to a four length win from Bold Edge at a hefty 8/1.
Only after the dust had settled did onlookers realise Stravinsky had broken the race record time, notching a scorching 1.09.51.

3. Muhaarar (1.09.34)

Muhaarar sounded like the laugh of an evil James Bond nemesis and this horse certainly gave his opponents the jitters.
Sired by the European Champion Sprinter Oasis Dream, this Shadwell stud speedster won the Gimcrack at York as a two-year-old, before setting out on a frighteningly fast campaign at three.
Charles Hills' bay colt warmed up for the July Cup with a cosy win in the Ascot Commonwealth Cup at a price of 10/1. By the time Muhaarar had reached Newmarket in 2015 he was 2/1 joint favourite to win the July Cup.
However, there was to be no repeat of Muhaarar's three and three-quarter length win in the Commonwealth Cup as he went stride for stride with five other competitors at the business end of the six furlongs.
Dean Ivory's 25/1 American bred long-shot Tropics looked to have the grittier finishing skills but Muhaarar fought back to hit the line in tandem.
The photo gave it to Muhaarar by a nose, and with the clock stopping at 1.09.34 it had been a very quick renewal of this top sprint.

2. Ten Sovereigns (1.09.31)

Sired by the Prix Morny winning American sprinter No Nay Never, Ten Sovereigns always looked good value for a solid career over short distances.
Raced only eight times, Ten Sovereigns picked up the Middle Park Stakes over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket as a two-year-old but flopped in the 2019 Coronation Cup at three.
Starting a 9/2 chance in the July Cup, Ryan Moore, the Ballyodoyle jockey in purple, hurtled out of the gates, raced centrally and never really looked like being headed. Meanwhile, the Martin Meade-trained favourite Advertise finished two and three quarter lengths behind in second.
Earning an official rating of 122, Ten Sovereigns had clocked the second fastest time in July Cup history meaning his stud fee will go for a lot more than his name.

1. Lethal Force (1.09.11)

Trainer Clive Cox has a deadly record in Group One sprints but few would have expected Lethal Force, bought for just £8500, to put in such a blistering showing in the 2013 July Cup.
There had been glimpses of form, such as a 2012 win in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury but that was in 2012 and over an extended seven furlongs. A tenth out of eleventh placed in the Prix Prix de la Foret was hardly sturdy form for Lethal Force but then the horse hit four-years-old and a renaissance took place.
Lethal Force took a tidy two length win in the 2013 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot at a price of 11/1 and suddenly he had forced his way into the July Cup reckoning.
Adam Kirby shot out of the gates in his candy-cane pink silks and immediately had the July Cup field in a sticky situation at Newmarket. Spectators trying to get a view of Clive Cox's 9/2 shot would have missed him before they got to the rails as Lethal Force flew past like a bullet under Adam Kirby.
James Fanshawe's Haydock Sprint Cup winning Society Rock could only get to within one and a half lengths of Lethal Force, who obliterated the race record in a time of 1.09.11.

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