Sprint Trophy: Dean Ivory putting faith in Stake Acclaim for Sprint Trophy
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Dean Ivory is putting his faith in Stake Acclaim to come up with one more big performance in Saturday's Coral Sprint Trophy at York.
Despite being on the go since April, the five-year-old has held his form remarkably well, rising 19lb in the handicap.
He has wins at Windsor and in the Shergar Cup at Ascot to his name, but has also finished placed in several valuable races, including the replacement race for the Ayr Gold Cup at Haydock last time out.
"He was so unlucky at Haydock," said Ivory. "He was in front a stride before the line and a stride after it, but not where it mattered. He seems to be getting better with age and he's very consistent.
"While he does have form on quicker ground, he could maybe do with it being a little softer than it is going to be, though.
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"Ever since he won his maiden on soft, I've always felt he's been at his best with cut in the ground. One thing he doesn't want is tacky ground. Ground is quite key to him, so I hope some of the rain from the west makes its way over.
"He's in stall one and if it does rain that's a good draw, but when the ground is quicker you tend to want to be in the middle, then you can take your pick."
Spring Loaded was behind Stake Acclaim when he was third to Ice Age in Windsor's Sprint Series Finale but it all came right last time out.
Racing over five and a half furlongs in the Portland at Doncaster, Spring Loaded bolted up by three and a half lengths but will find things much tougher off a 9lb higher mark.
"He's rated 105 on the all-weather so he's a good horse, but people have pigeon-holed him as an all-weather horse and he's not. I know he's just as good on turf as he is on the all-weather," said trainer Paul D'Arcy.
Spring Loaded spreadeagld the field at Doncaster last month (PA)
"Things went right for him (at Doncaster). The draw was right and the ground dried out - just on the soft side of 'good', probably.
"Everything went right for him, which happens with sprinters. Sometimes you have to be patient.
"He came out of that race well and I always had this race at York in mind for him. I think the track will suit him.
"I ride him every day, we've had this partnership for four years. Like a lot of sprinters, the older they get, the better they get. I think there's still some improvement in him."
Pipers Note may be approaching a half century of races but the handicapper suggests he is running nearly as well as ever.
Ruth Carr's seven-year-old was second in the Great St Wilfrid in August and managed fourth in this race 12 months ago on what was his first start for Carr since leaving Richard Whitaker.
"He's held his form remarkably well and is still in good form with himself," said Carr.
"The more the ground dries out, the better for him so that looks like it might be coming in his favour.
"He was fourth in this race last year and he's only 1lb higher this season.
"With Jimmy (Sullivan) going to Newmarket to ride Sovereign Debt, we've also got Lewis Edmunds taking 3lb off which is useful, he's someone we use quite a bit."
The William Haggas-trained Raucous has been strongly fancied for several big handicaps this season but has yet to win one and is running out of time.
Dropped 5lb since his last outing and running without headgear for the first time in a long while, Haggas is hoping he can spring a surprise.
He said: "He has got plenty of talent, it just hasn't fallen his way.
"We'll just see how he goes but he could easily surprise - he's one of those. He's in really good form and looks great, too."
David O'Meara won the race last year with Intisaab and runs Al Qahwa, a winner at the May meeting, and Edward Lewis, while Tim Easterby has a strong team with Flying Pursuit, Golden Apollo and Orion's Bow
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