Unequal Love, a filly, finished third for Haggas against the boys.

The wide-open nature of Britain's sprinting division was laid bare when Montassib equalled the record for the biggest-priced winner of Haydock's most prestigious flat race Sept. 7.

Sent off at 25-1, Montassib was delivered late by local lad Cieren Fallon to power home from fellow outsiders Kind Of Blue and Unequal Love in a Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) that left punters scratching their heads.

William Haggas, winning the Sprint Cup for the first time and saddling the third for good measure, was equally perplexed at the victory of a gelding having his first run at the highest level at the age of six.

"I thought Unequal Love might run well but I wasn't expecting Montassib to enjoy that ground and I thought they were both drawn away from the real action," the trainer said.

"We relied on Bucanero Fuerte going forward, which he did, and Unequal Love was always travelling well, whereas Cieren had to get after Montassib.

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"On softer ground, they come back to him and that would suit him better, but he's the most genuine horse at home and Cieren always thinks there's more to come.

"He had a heart condition as a 2-year-old and never ran as a 3-year-old, but he's had a bit of patience and got a bit of luck. I'm delighted he's won a group 1."

For Fallon, it was a third group 1 success -- all of which have come in sprints -- but it meant even more coming for the trainer and in the part of the country where he was raised. His season has been ravaged by injuries too.

"It's a special one," he said. "My family is here and it's my first group 1 for the boss Mr. Haggas, who has looked after me from day one.

"I had to bide my time and wait for the right gaps. We got them and off he went -- he's a joy to ride. You've got to be lucky getting the splits but in a big field like that with horses to aim at, I was always confident."

There could be more to come with Montassib, who is expected to relish the likely softer conditions at next month's British Champions Day at Ascot.

"The Champions Sprint was always the race I was looking forward to," said Haggas. "You would think the race will suit him, but he'll now be one of the favorites and things are different when you're expected to win."

A rematch with runner-up Kind Of Blue could await Montassib after trainer James Fanshawe pointed the way to Ascot with his improving sprinter.

The 3-year-old got within a head of emulating his close relative The Tin Man , who won the Sprint Cup for Fanshawe in 2018.

"It was a great run and I'm very pleased with him," the trainer said. "He's come a long way and I think the bit of easier ground helped him. He's getting the hang of it, he's a very exciting horse to have in the yard and I'd say there's a good chance we'll go to Ascot."

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