Sprinter Sacre the horse to take over Kauto Star mantle
Published:With Clive Smith stating that he is 90 per cent sure that we have seen the last of Kauto Star on the racecourse, jumps racing is in need of a new superstar and luckily one may already be brewing.
Sprinter Sacre has impressed in every race this season and added to his growing reputation when dismantling a more than useful field including Al Ferof and Cue Card to win the Arkle Chase.
His dominance of the 2m division is almost certain to continue into next season despite the fact he will be leaving novice company to take on his elders, he has already been installed at 5/4 in the Cheltenham odds to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Jockey Barry Geraghty insisted that Sprinter Sacre used the Arkle as nothing more than a schooling session, despite jumping fences at speed supposedly being the biggest challenge for novices at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jumping seems Sprinter Sacre’s game and despite his exuberance and flashy nature, never is there a feeling the horse will fall.
Geraghty has also labelled him ‘The Special One’ and punters will feel the same if he continues to set the world alight in his current manner.
However, winning over 2m may fail to capture the public’s imagination in the way managed by Kauto Star and to become the next big racing star he may need to eventually be stepped up to 3m and have a crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
That may be a few years’ time though and first the focus will be on the 2013 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
He may not have it all his way though as there is a strong chance that the first two from this years’ race will return as leading competition.
Finian’s Rainbow edged out Sizing Europe in a controversial close finish this year and the pair are both priced up at 4/1 to win in 2013.
