Haydock Park Sprint comes down to two

The withdrawal of Iffraaj from Saturday's Group 1, $570,000 Haydock Park Sprint Cup at six furlongs overshadows a strong 11-horse field for the race, which should be dominated by the two favorites, Reverence and Amadeus Wolf.

A Breeders' Cup Mile hopeful owned by Godolphin, Iffraaj was taken out of the Haydock Park Sprint Cup because of the soft ground. Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford had said Monday that he would consider Iffraaj for this Sunday's one-mile Prix du Moulin de Longchamp if the ground for the Haydock Park Sprint Cup was soft, even though Godolphin does not want to run Iffraaj at a mile before the Breeders' Cup. In his last start, Iffraaj was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 1.

Reverence and Amadeus Wolf were the first two finishers in last Thursday's Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at five furlongs at York. They dueled on similar soft ground to the three-sixteenth pole, before Reverence drew off to win by two lengths. Reverence won the Group 2 Temple Stakes at five furlongs at Sandown in April, but has failed in all three career tries at six furlongs.

Amadeus Wolf is a Group 1 winner at the distance, having won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last fall. He was also just a length behind Les Arcs, Europe's highest rated sprinter, when fourth in the Group 1 July Cup at six furlongs.