No Half Measures Aims for Group 1 Double in Sprint Cup

When the July Cup Stakes (G1) winner turns up at Haydock Park eight weeks later, they are usually a short price to follow up, but that is not the case this time, with No Half Measures (GB) a little dismissed in the betting for the Sept. 6 Sprint Cup Stakes (G1). Much of that is down to Lazzat (FR)'s stranglehold on the Sprint Cup market and possibly also the shock nature of No Half Measures' 66-1 triumph at Newmarket Racecourse, when she provided Richard Hughes with his group 1 breakthrough as a trainer. That neck success over the reopposing Big Mojo (IRE) surprised even the trainer, mainly because he thought the 4-year-old's best chance of top-flight glory came in this race. "We've always had the Sprint Cup as her big aim this year," Hughes said. "We thought it was her best chance of winning a group 1 because they normally get soft ground, but either way now it doesn't matter what the ground is. "I just didn't think she could compete at that level on quick ground and she proved she can do anything at Newmarket. She's had a nice gap and she looks really good." The forecast good ground is probably ideal for Hughes as it has allowed him another crack at the race with 3-year-old filly Sayidah Dariyan (IRE), who was seventh in last month's Nunthorpe Stakes (G1). "She's come out of York really good," Hughes said. "She just missed the kick and was then on the back foot over the five furlongs before finishing very strongly. I was impressed with her." Time For Sandals out to shine again at the highest level The race has long been earmarked for another top-class sprinter with Harry Eustace looking for more success at the highest level courtesy of Commonwealth Cup (G1) winner Time For Sandals (IRE). The 3-year-old filly emerged with credit when third in the King George Stakes (G2) at Goodwood Racecourse under a penalty and the return to six furlongs is seen as a positive. "It's been the race since Ascot we've targeted most," Eustace said. "At this stage of her career, six (furlongs) is a better place for her than five, albeit she wasn't beaten far at Goodwood. It looks like similar ground to Goodwood, which will be fine. "Lazzat was very impressive at Ascot but there isn't one dominant sprinter and, with the big field, it wouldn't surprise me if there was a funny result again." 'Very interesting' contender part of Wathnan team Wathnan Racing has a pair of group 1 winners in their three-strong challenge as last year's runner-up Kind of Blue (GB) joins Lazzat in an "exciting team." Kind of Blue came to the fore in the second half of last season when building on his head defeat here to win the British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) at Ascot, and there is a strong belief the James Fanshawe-trained colt is reaching his peak again. "Lazzat gave us a big win at Royal Ascot after which we gave him a break and then he ran fresh in Deauville," Wathnan's adviser Richard Brown said. "He's very talented and we've got an exciting team. "Kind of Blue is very interesting. It's taken a while for him to come to himself this year, but it was a much better run at the Curragh last time. The ground should be perfect for him and it feels like he's coming into form." Flora of Bermuda (IRE), who finished third behind Lazzat in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) before losing her race in the stalls in the July Cup, completes the trio. "Newmarket was a complete write-off for Flora of Bermuda as she reared as the stalls were opening," Brown added. "She ran very well at Ascot and any rain would help her."