Mayson makes his mark

Mayson's performance in the Darley July Cup has been rated the best by a British sprinter this season.

July Cup winner's rating 'on a par' with the average

Mayson's performance in the Darley July Cup has been rated the best by a British sprinter this season. The British Horse Racing Association's official handicapper Stewart Copeland revealed the news in his blog on the BHA's website. The testing conditions, that led to the absence of Bated Breath among others and made it difficult to come from off the pace, were factored into Copeland's calculations. The assessor remarked that a typical winner of the July Cup would be rated 120+ at least; he had, however, settled on a mark of 119 for the son of Invincible Spirit saying: "That still means his rating is on a par with the average we'd expect for a July Cup winner. It's also the highest rated performance by a British sprinter this year, marginally ahead of Bated Breath at 118." Sepoy may have failed to fire for Godolphin in the Group One sprint at Newmarket but another former Australian speedster racing in their blue silks did impress at Newbury with Copeland going on to give a positive mention to Soul: "Rated 115 after his fine fourth to Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, I've credited him with an improved rating of 117 for his decisive four-length beating of Firebeam."