Sprint Cup Glory For Equiano’s The Tin Man

[Wandering Eyes]

   The subject of a jockey change in mid-week, The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) came in for the Oisin Murphy treatment and duly produced some magic to come out on top in a rain-affected G1 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock. Staying on into third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville last time Aug. 5, the 7-1 shot had more in front than behind early as Hey Jonesy (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) refused to give the free-running defending champion Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) a moment’s peace on the front end. Slicing between rivals in his inimitable style, The Tin Man struck the front approaching the furlong pole and held off Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a half length and a neck. “I’m absolutely thrilled, as he’s run some great races without winning this year,” trainer James Fanshawe said of the 6-year-old who was recording a third success at this level after the 2016 G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. and last year’s G1 Diamond Jubilee S. under the substituted Tom Queally. “I was worried about the ground, but I always had it in the back of my mind that the rest of the family loved it. He’s been a great servant and hats off to him.” Murphy, who was registering a fifth group 1 win since early July, added, “He’s very laid-back and an easy ride. No horse enjoys this kind of ground, but he’s by Equiano and they usually do. The team have done a wonderful job with the horse and I was just lucky enough to ride him today. He didn’t travel and I got him going a bit sooner than ideal in hindsight, but he won anyway.” The returning 6-4 favourite Harry Angel was again upset in the stalls and faded out of contention to be sixth, with jockey Adam Kirby blaming the testing ground for the disappointment.

THE TIN MAN (GB), 129, g, 6, by Equiano (Fr)
1st Dam: Persario (GB), by Bishop of Cashel (GB)
2nd Dam: Barford Lady (GB), by Stanford
3rd Dam: Grace Poole (GB), by Sallust (GB)
(80,000gns Ylg ’13 TAOCT). O-Fred Archer Racing – Ormonde; B-Mrs Elizabeth Grundy (GB); T-James Fanshawe; J-Oisin Murphy. £184,421. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 20-9-1-2, £1,180,676. *1/2 to Deacon Blues (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), Hwt. Older Horse-Eng & Ire at 5-7f, G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, $520,715.

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