Stable jockey Hollie Doyle hailed SPARTAN ARROW one of the fastest horses she’s ever ridden following his success in Listed company in France on Tuesday, 24th June.
Hambleton Racing’s five-year old made a seamless step up in class to win the Prix Hampton at Chantilly for his owners Hambleton Racing, earning glowing praise from his Classic-winning rider.
“With the exception of my multiple Group 1 winner Bradsell, Spartan Arrow is easily the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden and I can’t wait to see how he gets on in Pattern company this summer,” she said.
His trainer Archie, who enjoyed top level success with Hambleton’s sprinter flagship Glen Shiel, now aims to run him in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood at the beginning of August.
“It was great to see him take the step up to stakes company so readily. He is very quick and travels so well which is what you need in these good races. He not only showed blistering speed but was tough in the finish.
“We will plan towards the King George Qatar Stakes now and hopefully he can be running in the top five-furlong races this Summer and Autumn. It’s fantastic for Hambleton Racing to have another proper stakes horse and he was another great buy by Tom Biggs for 17,000 guineas at Tattersalls in October,” he added.
Spartan Arrow took up the running early in the five-furlong dash and showed a great fighting spirit to regain the lead after being headed by Christophe Soumillon and Havana Cigar inside then final furlong.
The son of Sioux Nation, who was formerly trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, was building on a close second in the Dash at Epsom earlier in the month after winning over that course and distance in April.
By Simon Mapletoft
