Harry Eustace relishing Sprint Cup test for Time For Sandals

Harry Eustace is keen to find out where his Royal Ascot winner Time For Sandals ranks against the best six-furlong sprinters in Europe when she contests the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Winner of the Commonwealth Cup against her own age, she then dropped down to five furlongs at Goodwood against her elders, finishing a three-quarter-length third.

Back up to her favoured trip this weekend, she is second favourite in most lists behind Lazzat.

“It’s a positive for us they didn’t get much rain and while it’s a tough race, we’re looking forward to seeing where we fit in,” said Eustace.

“It was nice to see her back up at Goodwood against the older ones over what isn’t really her trip having done it at Ascot against her own age.

“We’ll find out now where we really fit in against the best over six furlongs.

“The draw (two) is fair, I’d rather be drawn closer to a few more fancied runners but we can’t do much about that, so we’ll see how we go. We are at least next to Sayidah Dariyan and we might have to look after ourselves.”

Lazzat was also a winner at Royal Ascot and went close to following up in the Prix Maurice de Gheest for trainer Jerome Reynier.

“Lazzat has been staying in Deauville for the last month. We are very happy with him and he did his last piece of work on the straight course on the racecourse last Saturday. That was very nice – he moved well and behaved well. We were very happy, and he looks amazing physically. We can only hope for the best,” said Reynier.

“He was racing after 50 days (since Ascot) and we brought him to Deauville five days prior to the race and I think he became a bit fresh between his travelling and the race. When he won the Maurice de Gheest last year, we came the day before.

“On Saturday, he is running after 27 days off and will be travelling the day before. I think he has done enough work to make sure he won’t be too fresh and keen.

“He is a horse that’s happy in any kind of routine. He’s travelled the world and been in quarantine, so is very versatile and can adapt himself to any kind of conditions, so he’s very easy to deal with. He gets on well with his morning rider, Franck Blondel, a former champion jockey. As long as he has Franck with him, he is happy to visit the world.”

Richard Hughes’ No Half Measures is bidding for a Group One double following her surprise win in the July Cup.

“It was a brilliant day in the July Cup. We were hoping she would run well, but on that (quick) ground we didn’t think it would be possible to win,” said Hughes.

“I thought she would need it softer to be able to overcome that level of horse, but she went and proved she can do it on any ground.

“Ryan (Moore) kept saying she is really good over five furlongs but I thought she might be able to excel if she could travel over a bit further, and she hasn’t let me down.

“She is improving, and although she was beaten on her first start over six furlongs, she hasn’t been beaten over it since.”

Hughes also runs Sayidah Dariyan.

The William Haggas-trained Sky Majesty was supplemented for the race after winning in Ireland the last twice, having landed Group races at Ayr and Chantilly on contrasting conditions last term.

Sean Graham, racing manager to her co-owner Tony Bloom, said: “William has been very happy with her since Naas and her best run last year was at Chantilly when she won on heavy ground.

“She just hadn’t come to herself when she ran first time out at Chelmsford and although she improved significantly for that run, she probably still wasn’t where William would have wanted her at Royal Ascot (in the Commonwealth Cup).

“The ground was very quick that day and maybe she just didn’t let herself down on it either and she has won twice at Naas since and looks a million dollars, so we’re looking forward to taking our chance.”