Trainer Edward Lynam has confirmed that talented sprinter Slade Power will contest the 2014 VRC Sprint Classic during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival after he scored a third straight win in the Group 1 July Cup(1207m) at Newmarket on Saturday.
Slade Power is set to meet champion Australian sprinter Lankan Rupee in the VRC Sprint Classic during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Slade Power went into the race as a clear favourite and punters that took the short odds on offer for the Dutch Art entire were never worried; with the five-year-old finishing strongly to record a one and a half lengths win from Tropics and Gregorian.
Lynam revealed last month that he was eyeing the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8 with Slade Power and he revealed after the July Cup that the talented sprinter would contest the Group 1 Sprint Cup (1207m) at Haydock Park in September before heading to Australia for a likely clash with Lankan Rupee.
“Today he has proved he is the best sprinter in Europe and we want to prove he is the best in the world,” Lynam said after the race.
“It was probably a muddling messy sort of race today, but I have always spoken of him very highly.
“It is four months until the VRC which is why we will run him at Haydock beforehand and it would be lovely if he could go to Australia and sign off with a win there.
“I don’t think Australia will be a problem; he travels well and he’ll handle any ground.
“It will take a very good horse to chin him down there, although they have a different way of racing.”
“I’m looking forward to running him in Australia in his last race.
“Both he and Sole Power mean the world to me and it will be sad to see him retire at the end of the season.”
Slade Power started his 2012 racing season with a comfortable two lengths victory in the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes (1207m) at Curragh in Ireland on May 24 before recording his maiden win at Group 1 level in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1207m) during the 2014 Royal Ascot Meeting on June 21.
The five-year-old, who has accumulated over 1 million Pounds in prizemoney during his racing career, was sold to Darley last week and he will be retired to stand at stud in Europe after he runs in the VRC Sprint Classic.
