Power Surges To National Stakes Success

On a day of mixed fortunes for the powerful Ballydoyle stables of Aidan O’Brien – Fame And Glory was a major flop in the Irish St Leger – the yard’s 2000 Guineas hope Power was an undoubted highlight as he proved just too good for a strong field in landing the Group 1 Goffs National Stakes at the Curragh, writes Elliot Slater.

The son of Oasis Dream had lost his unbeaten record at the Curragh on his previous outing when beaten a neck by La Collina (received 3lbs) in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, but the step up to seven furlongs appeared to bring out the best in the Seamie Heffernan-ridden youngster who eventually proved half-a-length too good for the fast-finishing Jessica Harrington-trained favourite Dragon Pulse. Anyone looking at the horse betting odds will have been impressed.

With just over a furlong left to run it looked form the stands at though Power’s stable companion David Livingston might take some pegging back, but as they raced uphill to the finish Power’s stamina kicked in and he forged by before holding the late surge of the smart runner-up. The performance clearly pleased all at Ballydoyle, Heffernan commenting afterwards that he believes the best is yet to be seen of the youngster and that a mile might well bring out even more improvement in him. Whether the horse betting will reflect this remains to be seen.

A winner at the Curragh on his debut in maiden company at the beginning of May, Power followed up three weeks later at the same track in listed company before journeying to Royal Ascot where he got the better of a ding-dong battle with the very useful Jeremy Noseda-trained Roman Soldier, by a neck. His defeat next time out at the hands of 33/1 chance La Collina came as a major shock, but normal service was resumed on Saturday and betting firms were sufficiently impressed to now rate him as a general 10/1 joint-second favourite with Born To Sea for next year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, behind Richard Hannon’s Harbour Watch (8/1).