Librisa Breeze wins Champions Sprint

Librisa Breeze has claimed some big-name scalps to win the British Champions Sprint at Ascot.

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

But they were all left in the wake of the Dean Ivory-trained speedy grey who survived a bump a furlong (200m) out to win impressively.

Adam Kirby adopted more patient tactics on Harry Angel and he kicked clear with two furlongs to run.

Despite coping with heavy ground at Haydock, Harry Angel soon started to tire and the challengers came.

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 1-1/4 lengths with Caravaggio third.

“It means a hell of a lot,” Winston said.

“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.

“He (Librisa Breeze) would 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.”