Sole powers to Scarbrough victory

Wednesday 12 September 2012

1 Sole Power (J P Murtagh) 5-2 Fav
2 Jwala (S W Kelly) 14-1
3 Excelette (T Eaves) 25-1

By Geoffrey Riddle

Sole Power confirmed he was a Group One-class sprinter today by running away with the Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster.

Heavy rain before the race had threaten to derail his chances in the Listed contest but he justified heavy market support to win cosily by a length and a half under Johnny Murtagh.

It was the first victory since returning from a facial injury and his split with the Aga Khan.

“Johnny was very bullish about him and he said he was going to be very cool on him and he was,” trainer Eddie Lynham said.

Sole Power had struggled at the top level all season but had legitmate claims for defeats behind Bated Breath I the Temple Stakes, Little Bridge in the King’s Stand and Ortensia in the Nunthorpe Stakes.

"I don't think anyone could say he didn't deserve that. Anyone who was brave enough to back a Group One horse in a Listed race at 11-4 has done very well,” Lynam said.

"He came back from York (this year's Nunthorpe) very buzzy for whatever reason. He got too much daylight that day and it didn't do him any good.

“The only instructions I gave Johnny were to switch him off and I’m delighted because he has ridden him very well.”

Sole Power will now be prepared for the Prix L’Abbaye at Longchamp on the first weekend of October before running in the Hong Kong and then at the Dubai Carnival next season.

“The horse has a very good turn of foot and all going well he will go for the Abbaye if the ground is right, and then on to Hong Kong as Johnny thinks he will be perfect to race over there," Lynam said.

Jwala set a moderate pace under Sean Kelly and the pair were pressed by Tom Eaves on Excelette.

Murtagh had his mount anchored out the back and it was not until the pacesetters approached the final furlong that Murtagh made his move.

The Irishman squeezed through a narrow gap and Sole Power continued to eat up ground to fly past Jwala and Excelette, who stayed on well to finish second and third respectively.

"She's run an absolute cracker," said trainer Robert Cowell of Jwala. "It was touch and go whether we ran her, rated 93, but she's very progessive and her work since Goodwood has been very good. She has bags of scope and she's going to be a serious contender for top races next year."

Kingsgate Native was seventh on his reappearance after a layoff of 375 days.

"Richard [Hughes, rider] said he found the ground a bit loose," Cowell added. "He was up against race-fit horses. We'll perhaps go to Newbury for a Group Three, or there is the Rous Stakes at Ascot. We'll keep it fairly low-key for the rest of the season."

William Hill make Sole Power 4-1 for the Prix l'Abbaye