King Power Racing Co Ltd's Winter Power (IRE) produced a brilliant display in the Coolmore Wootton Basset Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York in the United Kingdom on Friday. The victory at 9-1 odds secured Winter Power a guaranteed start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.
Winter Power becomes the third horse to gain a “Win and You're In” berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this year, joining Casa Creed, the Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes (G1) winner at Belmont Park on June 5 and Dream of Dreams (IRE), who won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 19.
A blistering pace was set by Frankie Dettori on Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal, the 5-2 second choice, but Winter Power, under Silvestre De Sousa, quickened past him at the two-furlong pole and kept up the gallop all the way to the line to win by 1 ¼ lengths. Emaraaty Ana (GB), a 40-1 hope, chased her down to finish second with the 3-year-old son of Cable Bay, Dragon Symbol (GB), finishing back in third at odds of 4-1. Golden Pal wound up seventh.
Winter Power, a 3-year-old daughter of Bungle Inthejungle (GB) out of Titian Saga (IRE) by Titus Livius (FR), completed the five furlongs in :56.72 on a course listed as good-to-firm.
Winter Power's win gave local trainer Tim Easterby his first Group 1 success since Fayr Jag (IRE) won the Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in 2004. Easterby believed his filly was in perfect condition going into the race and so it proved. He said: “She's an incredible filly. She had come right for today. I wasn't too worried about any other horses today; I was just focused on my filly. She's able to relax now in races and we can then use her speed. The best sprinters have that ability to kick half-way through the race and she's got that.”
When asked what it means to win a Group 1 at his local track, Easterby simply said: “It's the best. What more can you get?”
It was a first Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes win for Winter Power's jockey Silvestre De Sousa who was full of praise for his filly. He said: “She's unbelievably fast. I don't think I've sat on anything as fast as her. When it's a flat track like York, she gets away from the gates very quickly. It means the world to ride the winner of the Nunthorpe in the King Power silks.”
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Winter Power to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which will be run at five furlongs on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
The post Nunthorpe To Winter Power After Golden Pal Wilts After Setting Fast Pace appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
