Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes |
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| Group 1, Newmarket 15:00 £250,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1  |
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1 Perfect Power 11/4F
2 Castle Star 12/1
3 Armor 9/1
10 ran Distances: ½l, nk, nk
Time: 1m 11.32s (slow by 1.02s)
Perfect Power storms home from a good way out @NewmarketRace to win the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes for Christophe Soumillon and @RichardFahey 👏@JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/uwCq7oSAYD https://t.co/v8prUVwscq via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) September 29, 2021
Richard Fahey’s Perfect Power already had a Group One victory on his record as he landed the Prix Morny last time out, and he was sent off the 11-4 favourite to follow up in this six-furlong affair.
Christophe Soumillon was towards the rear through the early stages as Go Bears Go and Twilight Jet went toe to toe up front, setting a sound gallop, although the challengers were lining up in behind as the field approached the two-furlong marker.
Twilight Jet did his best to fend them off, but Armor, Asymmetric and Caturra all put the pressure on before Perfect Power came with a precision burst down the middle of the track.
He surpassed them all to steal a half-length verdict, with Castle Star also finishing with purpose from the rear to take second.
Armor was third, with Go Bears Go rallying again to snatch fourth.
A relieved Fahey said: “I’ve been watching racing all week and when we got stall one I thought ‘someone down there doesn’t like me!’.
“I was very negative in my own mind, but he is a special horse. The way he quickened up today – it took a special ride and a special special horse to win like that today.
“We knew were struggling from the draw and Christophe said ‘I’ll drop him right out today’. I said ‘you do what you like, kid!’.
“He’s a ball of a horse who has had a busy enough time. When you go to Royal Ascot, then you go to Glorious Goodwood and then Deauville and then here, it’s tough – but he loves it.
“With two furlongs to run I thought we were in a bit of trouble, but when he pulled him out he picked up very well.”
He added of the future: “We had a board meeting about two months ago and we said we’d go Richmond, Deauville and then here. We haven’t got any further than that.
“For a two-year-old, he’s very special. He’s very easy and has a super mind. When he’s not exercising he eats and then goes to sleep.
“He could step up (in trip) on pedigree. His sire (Ardad) was a fast two-year-old and we don’t know much about his progeny, but on the dam’s side we’ve every chance of staying.”
Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1)
£250,000 added, 2yo only, 6f, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Firm
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1) Perfect Power 2 9-0 Richard Fahey Christophe Soumillon 11/4
2 (2) ½ Castle Star 2 9-0 J A Stack Jamie Spencer 12/1
3 (8) nk Armor 2 9-0 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 9/1
4 (4) nk Go Bears Go 2 9-0 David Loughnane Rossa Ryan 7/2
5 (5) nk Caturra 2 9-0 Clive Cox Adam Kirby 12/1
6 (7) dht Twilight Jet 2 9-0 M D O'Callaghan Leigh Roche 28/1
7 (9) ½ Asymmetric 2 9-0 Alan King Martin Harley 17/1
8 (10) ¾ Dr Zempf 2 9-0 G M Lyons Colin Keane 9/2
9 (6) 1¾ New York City 2 9-0 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 33/1
10 (3) 10 HMS Endeavour 2 9-0 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 14/1
