News Librisa Breeze shocks big names at Ascot to lift Champions Sprint honours

Librisa Breeze shocks big names at Ascot to lift Champions Sprint honours

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Librisa Breeze downed all the big names to win the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot.

With Harry Angel sent off favourite to follow up his scintillating Haydock win and Commonwealth Cup winner Caravaggio plus Quiet Reflection and The Tin Man all in the line-up, there was no hiding place.

However, they were all left in the wake of Dean Ivory's speedy grey, who survived a bump a furlong out to win impressively.

Adam Kirby adopted more patient tactics on Harry Angel, but he kicked clear with two furlongs to run. However, despite coping with heavy ground at Haydock, Harry Angel soon got tired and the cavalry began charging.

Tasleet attacked on the far side, with Librisa Breeze in the middle of the track as Caravaggio also began to stay on.

Owned by Tony Bloom, who is the chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion and won the Cesarewiitch last week with Withhold, Librisa Breeze obliged at 10-1 under Robert Winston, beating Tasleet by a length and a quarter. Caravaggio was third.

Winston told ITV Racing: "It means a hell of a lot - my career was finished, only for this horse, and that's being honest. I was packing up last year, I gave my notice to Dean, but this horse and Mr Bloom have kept me going.

"Dean is a great man to ride for, he has great staff and brilliant owners, including Mr Bloom."

He added of the winner: "He'd get a mile-plus, but has so much natural speed and is so genuine. I know I have been criticised a couple of times this year when he should have won, but that's the way you have to ride him.

"It doesn't really matter now, he's won the big one this year and this was the plan."