Perfect Power (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Middle Park Glory For Ardad’s Perfect Power

Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket looked a tight affair on paper and although there were just 1 3/4 lengths covering the first seven home, there was ultimately a degree of comfort in the victory of the G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}). Freshened up since his success for Christophe Soumillon in the Morny over this six-furlong trip at Deauville Aug. 22, the Richard Fahey-trained bay was one of the last to play his hand under that rider but was a cosy half-length winner from Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to complete the prestigious juvenile double. Positioned with only Castle Star behind as the early pace proved hot, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's 11-4 favourite was cajoled into action passing halfway and arrived widest of all to hit the front 100 yards from home. Strong to the line as he had been in Normandy and in the G2 Norfolk S., he had too many guns for Castle Star who denied Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) the runner's-up spot by a neck. “For a 2-year-old, he's very special. He's very easy and has a super mind,” Fahey said. “When he's not exercising he eats and then goes to sleep. 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.”

Introduced over five furlongs in a May 25 Newcastle novice, Perfect Power ran a respectable third before going to Hamilton to show his now-trademark acceleration eight days before the Norfolk. That was a tight turnaround to the Royal Ascot contest, but he was in no mood to back off and delivered his closing surge to overhaul Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) there before heading to the Goodwood Festival. Tackling six furlongs for the first time in the July 29 G2 Richmond S., he enjoyed no luck in running when fifth behind Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) but enjoyed a clear run at his rivals in the Morny to regain his mantle. This was close, but he has now overcome all that has been thrown at him when able to produce his late charge unhindered.

Soumillon also believes he was able to overcome difficulties with the undulations of this track and a perceived stand's rail bias. “My horse stumbled twice going downhill. I didn't lose confidence in him, but lost a little ground there,” he said. “When I took him out and he was running uphill, he found his gear and quickened like he did last time at Deauville. I was drawn one and in the race before we saw that the rail was beneficial. I was happy on Friday with my draw, because I knew if everyone was staying in the middle of the track it would be easy for me to come from the back but after 200 metres or so everyone was going to the fence and I knew it was going to be difficult to come from so far back. The pace was good, which was the key part of it. I'm sure he's much better on a flat track, but what he did today probably showed he's the best 2-year-old in Europe at the moment. I even think he can handle seven furlongs.”

Fahey had made clear his fears about the one draw for the £110,000 Goffs UK Breeze Up graduate. “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,” he said. “The way he quickened up today–it took a special ride and a special special horse to win like that today. 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. He could step up on pedigree. His sire was a fast 2-year-old and we don't know much about his progeny, but on the dam's side we've every chance of staying.”

Perfect Power, who has flown the flag for his first-season sire whose progeny have impressed in 2021, is the first foal out of Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) who stayed 12 furlongs. She is a granddaughter of Saga D'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), who is a full-sister to the Arc hero Sagamix (Fr) and a half to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and to Shastye (Ire) (Danehill). She needs no introduction as the dam of the high-class Galileo (Ire) trio of Japan (GB), Mogul (GB) and Secret Gesture (GB), while this is also the Aga Khan family of Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who took this year's G3 Prix du Pin and was second in the G1 Prix Rothschild. Sagely's yearling filly by Kodiac (GB) sells on Tuesday at Goffs Orby, while she also has a colt foal by Galileo Gold (GB).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK S.-G1, £250,000, Newmarket, 9-25, 2yo, c, 6fT, 1:11.32, g/f.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Ardad (Ire)
1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Saga d'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
(16,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; £110,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Christophe Soumillon. £151,345. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 6-4-0-1, $519,341. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Castle Star (Ire), 126, c, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Awohaam (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). O-Craig Bernick & Antony Beck; B-Churchtown Bloodstock, Grouseridge & Carhue (IRE); T-Fozzy Stack. £57,378.
3–Armor (GB), 126, c, 2, No Nay Never–Hestia (Fr), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€55,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Mr C E Stedman (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £28,716.
Margins: HF, NK, NK. Odds: 2.75, 12.00, 9.00.
Also Ran: Go Bears Go (Ire), Caturra (Ire), Twilight Jet (Ire), Asymmetric (Ire), Dr Zempf (GB), New York City (Ire), HMS Endeavour. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Middle Park Attracts Fourteen

Group winner Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) is coming into the Sept. 25 G1 Middle Park S. in good form after a brief freshening. The G2 Railway S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. third is one of 14 juveniles to stand their ground at this entry stage. A debut winner at Newbury for trainer David Loughnane, the colt was also second in the June 17 G2 Norfolk S. behind subsequent Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).

“We are exactly where we want to be, the ground looks like it's going to be in great condition,” said Loughnane. “We freshened him up and I think it's done him the world of good, physically and mentally. He's strengthened up loads and I couldn't be happier.

“It's a crucial time for 2-year-olds. People might look and say 'he's only had four runs why does he need a break', but he's been on the go since last December for a breeze up.

“That's a long time for a growing 2-year-old to keep rocking and rolling and he's done a lot of travelling, he went to Ireland twice in a short space of time. It's all systems go.”

Two Group 1 winners are currently signed on for the six-furlong test-the aforementioned G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power and the G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}). Richard Hannon trainees Armor (GB) (No Nay Never), who won the G3 Molecomb S. and G2 Gimcrack S. victor Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) are both entered. Prix Morny third and G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) has stood his ground for Alan King, while Michael O'Callaghan has supplemented dual Group 2-placed Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}). The Clive Cox duo of G2 Mill Reef S. winner Wings of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and G2 Flying Childers S. victor Caturra (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) are also part of the field. A trio of Ballydoyle representatives are entered at this stage-Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), HMS Endeavour (War Front) and New York City (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Completing the 14 are G3 Marble Hill S. winner Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Ger Lyons trainee Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

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Ardad’s Perfect Power Battles To Prix Morny Glory

Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's 2-year-old colt Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Kodiac {GB}) when plundering Royal Ascot's June 17 G2 Norfolk S. and, despite a blip when fifth in last month's July 29 G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood, notched another first for the Overbury Stud incumbent with a decisive victory in Sunday's G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville, a “Win And You're In” for the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November. The January-foaled bay had earlier bettered a May 25 debut third at Newcastle with a 2 1/4-length graduation over five furlongs at Hamilton and was renewing rivalry with Richmond S. winner Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and a host of others in this straight six-furlong dash. Anchored at the tail of the field by Christophe Soumillon and under cover through halfway as Solotov (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) set the early fractions, the 19-5 second favourite inched ever closer once leaving the quarter-mile marker behind and quickened smartly under late rousting after joining the front rank at the eighth pole to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths from Trident (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

“He was quite unlucky in the Richmond and I'd have been very disappointed if he had not beaten all the horses that had finished in front of him in that race,” said the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond. “I'm not saying I though he'd win, but I was expecting a good run from the horse. It was a slow, messy race and he had to work his way through horses on more than one occasion. It worked out beautifully in the end. He is all speed and a pure sprinter so the logical step would be to go to the [Sept. 25 G1 Juddmonte] Middle Park S. [at Newmarket] next. We hope he trains on next year and we'll see what happens when the time comes.”

Perfect Power engaged in a minor tussle with eventual runner-up Trident approaching the final furlong and the latter's rider Mickael Barzalona commented, “I'm certainly disappointed to have been beaten, which is always the case when you finish second in a Group 1 race. However, it was only the third run of his life and I'm delighted with that. I think he will stay further.”

Martin Harley, who was also in the plate for Asymmetric's G2 Richmond success, added, “I had some concerns about the [good-to-soft] ground beforehand, but he travelled smoothly throughout the race. I thought we might have a chance of winning with 2 1/2 furlongs to race, but he didn't quicken as I thought he might when I asked him. He really would have liked it faster and I expect the Middle Park will be his next stop.”

Perfect Power becomes the first Group 1 winner for his first-crop sire (by Kodiac {GB}) and is the first foal bred from Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}), herself a dual-winning half-sister to the Listed Upavon S. runner-up Sagaciously (Ire) (Lawman {Ire}). Descendants of the January-foaled bay's third dam Saga d'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) include Listed Derby du Midi victor Sagaroi (Fr) (King's Best), Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon scorer Sagauteur (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) and this year's Listed Prix Maurice Zilber-winning G1 Prix Rothschild runner-up Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Saga d'Ouilly is a full-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning sire Sagamix (Fr) and G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Sage et Jolie (Fr), herself the dam of G1 Prix d'Ispahan-winning sire Sageburg (Fr) (Johannesburg). His fourth dam, G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), is responsible for G1 Grand Criterium victor and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe placegetter Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and Listed Pontefract Castle S. runner-up Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), herself the dam of five stakes winners headed by G1 International S. and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and his G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase-winning full-brother Mogul (GB). Sagely has a yearling filly by Kodiac (GB) and a weanling colt by Galileo Gold (GB) to come.

Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX MORNY – FINALE DES DARLEY SERIES-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-22, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:10.81, g/s.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Ardad (Ire)
1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Saga d'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (16,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; £110,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Christophe Soumillon. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 5-3-0-1, €262,322. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Trident (Fr), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Mezzo Mezzo (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). (€140,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-David Smaga & Mme Marie-Benedicte Fougy-Smaga (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €80,010.
3–Asymmetric (Ire), 126, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Swirral Edge (GB), by Hellvelyn (GB). (65,000gns Ylg '20 TADEYG; 150,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Ms Leora Judah; B-Redpender Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Alan King. €40,005.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, HF. Odds: 3.80, 13.00, 4.40.
Also Ran: Armor (GB), Gubbass (Ire), Have A Good Day (Ire), Baghed (GB), Toimy Son (Fr), Quick Suzy (Ire), Khunan (GB), Velocidad (GB), January Moon (Fr), Josejosephine (Fr), Solotov (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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First Black-Type Winner For Ardad As Perfect Power Wins the Norfolk

Impressive both visually and on the clock when off the mark over this five-furlong trip at Hamilton eight days previously, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) delivered the same acceleration to take Thursday's G2 Norfolk S. and provide his Overbury Stud-based first-season sire with a first black-type winner. Drawn in 10 and forced to come up the middle which had looked unfavourable over the first two days, the Richard Fahey-trained £110,000 Goffs UK Breeze Up graduate was outpaced and towards rear at halfway in this GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint qualifier. As he had against lesser company in Scotland the week before, the 14-1 shot turned on the afterburners to arrive into contention towards the stand's side as the line neared. With Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) keeping all on the far side at bay throughout, it was Perfect Power who swooped in the final stride to crown Paul Hanagan's comeback from serious injury on the other part of the track. The judge was needed with the front two split wide apart and it was officially a head that separated them, with just a nose back to the stand's-rail runner Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in third. In a tight finale, the 5-1 favourite Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) was just half a length away in fourth coming up the far rail. “Beautiful,” said Hanagan, who had recently completed his convalescence having fractured his T3, T4 and T6 in a fall last February. “I don't usually get emotional, but I'm lucky to be here at all after the accident. It's been a very character-building few months, but I had the will to get back and I appreciate I got a second chance to take with both hands. This is what it's all about–it's just an amazing feeling.”

Third on debut over this trip behind the James Tate-trained Royal Aclaim (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) in a May 25 Newcastle novice that had already started to work out well, Perfect Power may not have beaten any stars at Hamilton but the manner of his performance stayed with all who witnessed it. Running similarly in this race which was stripped of one of its more-fancied runners as the Clive Cox-trained Instinctive Move (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) reared in the stalls, he was a touch stranded up the centre but at least had Lucci (Not This Time) to aim at dead ahead. That Ward runner only gave best in the last 50 yards as Perfect Power and Project Dante swamped him, while on the far side it was Go Bears Go and Cadamosto who had it between them in a thrilling finale.

“They went quite hard and I had to sit and suffer on him, but I'm glad I did as he didn't half power home and run through the line,” Hanagan added. “As a horse, you couldn't get better and that's probably what got him beat first time–we were all expecting him to win, but he got stage fright. He'd come out of that so well and Hamilton brought him on again. He's going the right way.” Richard Fahey added, “It was a good race for me to watch, as we had three runners in it with two involved in the finish [including the sixth-placed Khunan (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}). I thought we'd got beat, but I'm just delighted for the whole team at Musley Bank, it's a great result for us all and I'm delighted for Sheikh Rashid, he's supported us the last two or three years now and to get him a Royal Ascot winner is fantastic, he's a real nice man. He was slowly away at Newcastle and got beat because of it, so it was a good decision to go to Hamilton a week ago. I always think it's tough for a once-raced two-year-old, it takes a good one to do it so it probably helped us today.”

Perfect Power, who was emulating the Royal Ascot success of Ardad who took the Listed Windsor Castle S. in 2016, is the first foal out of a granddaughter of Saga D'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who is in turn a full-sister to the Arc hero Sagamix (Fr). She is also a half to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and to Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), who produced the high-class Galileo (Ire) trio of Japan (GB), Mogul (GB) and Secret Gesture (GB) and is one of the world's leading broodmares. This is also the Aga Khan family of Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), a 4-year-old filly in training with Mikel Delzangles who took the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber in May. The dam Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}) is a half to the Listed Upavon S. runner-up Sagaciously (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who beat her when they raced together and went one-two in a decent 10-furlong handicap at Glorious Goodwood five years ago. Her yearling filly is by Kodiac (GB), while she also has a colt foal by Galileo Gold (GB).

Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
NORFOLK S.-G2, £80,000, Ascot, 6-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.44, g/f.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Ardad (Ire)
1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Saga d'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (16,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; £110,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Paul Hanagan. £47,360. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $72,797. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Go Bears Go (Ire), 127, c, 2, Kodi Bear (Ire)–In Dubai, by Giant's Causeway. (£50,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY; 150,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Amo Racing Limited & P Waney; B-Micheal D Ryan (IRE); T-David Loughnane. £17,912.
3–Project Dante (GB), 127, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Thatsallimsaying (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). (125,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 115,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Bond Thoroughbred Ltd; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Bryan Smart. £8,952.
Margins: HD, NO, HF. Odds: 14.00, 6.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Cadamosto (Ire), Lucci, Khunan (GB), Twilight Jet (Ire), Nakatomi, Korker (Ire), Andreas Vesalius (Ire), Navello (GB), Second Wind (Ire), Little Earl (Ire), King of Speed (Ire), Straits of Moyle (Ire). Scratched: Instinctive Move (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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