Mighty Minzaal turns Sprint Cup into procession at Haydock
Minzaal ridden by jockey Jim Crowley wins the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park
Minzaal produced a devastating performance to claim the first Group One victory of his career in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Trained by Owen Burrows and ridden by Jim Crowley, the four-year-old had placed at the highest level on multiple occasions but had yet to get his head in front.
However, he righted that statistic with an effortless performance on Merseyside, sitting in behind the early pacesetters before laying down his challenge entering the last of the six furlongs.
When Crowley gave the signal, he powered away to win by three and three-quarter lengths from last year's winner Emaraaty Ana.
Rohaan kept on for third but favourite Naval Crown dropped away in the closing stages having held every chance.
Minzaal chased home subsequent Nunthorpe Stakes winner Highfield Princess on his most recent run in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and Burrows was thrilled to see the Mehmas colt get the verdict this time.
The trainer, who was enjoying his second Group One success of the year following Hukum's Coronation Cup win, said: "All credit to the team back home, they've been working hard and to get the job done is amazing.
"It's been a big year for me, you are soon forgotten in this game and I've been trying to attract outside owners, we don't have a lot of horses to run but a lot of two-year-olds.
Mighty Minzaal!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 3, 2022
What a performance from @ojburrows74's speedball in the @Betfair #SprintCup @haydockraces @ShadwellStud | @ShadwellRacing | @JimCrowley1978 pic.twitter.com/K3XL5ggVs0
"These big winners on a Saturday in Group Ones are hard to come by. This lad deserved one, he was knocking on the door at two, had an injury at three and was still Group One placed at Ascot and he ran a big race in France last time.
"Shaun (Muscroft) who looks after him was telling me he was in better form than before France and he was right, he blew them away.
"His biggest asset is his temperament, it's to die for for a sprinter, he's so laid back about life. He's a pleasure to train.
"The race went to plan once he jumped, he was just behind the leaders which didn't quite happen in France. I'm thrilled because he's been knocking on the door for a few years and didn't get the chance to show what he could do last year."
