Fifth time’s the charm for Sole Power in Al Quoz Sprint

Sole Power gave jockey Richard Hughes a winner on his final World Cup card (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) Ireland’s Horse of the Year Sole Power (Kyllachy) had gone winless in eight prior starts over the Meydan turf, including four appearances in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G1). But in Saturday’s renewal, the Eddie Lynam veteran got the job done under a heady ride by Richard Hughes. Mrs. Sabena Power’s superstar was coming off a troubled 12th in the March 7 Meydan Sprint (UAE-G3). This time, the eight-year-old enjoyed much clearer sailing. Defending champion Amber Sky (Exceed and Excel) blazed the trail, only to be overtaken by fellow Hong Kong shipper Peniaphobia (Dandy Man). But Sole Power went after him and proved too strong in the closing stages. On top by a half-length at the wire, he zipped about five furlongs on good turf in :57 1/5. “I don’t know what Eddie (Lynam) has done to him since, but it worked,” joked Hughes, who is due to retire from the saddle at the end of the season and become a trainer himself. “To ride any winner is a good feeling but big ones on this night take some beating.”

“He’s put his CV up for (top European sprinter) today,” Lynam
said. “He has just come to himself, and on his day he was always
capable of doing this.”

The Wesley Ward-trained Green Mask (Mizzen Mast) finished fast toward the far
side for third, only a half-length off Peniaphobia. Jockey Frankie Dettori
believed that his post position was costly.

“I was drawn 1 whereas the winner was toward the middle (post 7) and the
second was over in 16, so he’s run a huge race from that gate.”

Amber Sky was fourth in his title defense. Distinctiv Passion (With
Distinction) tired to 13th of 16, and jockey Edwin Maldonado cited the course
condition.

“He was on the
pace as we wanted but he found the track a little bit ‘slippy’ and he tired,”
Maldonado said of Distinctiv Passion.

Sole Power was notching his fifth career Group 1 tally, following consecutive
wins in the last two editions of the King’s Stand (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot and
the 2010 and 2014 runnings of the Nunthorpe (Eng-G1) at York. The bay has also
accounted for the past two renewals of the Palace House (Eng-G3) at Newmarket,
the 2011 Temple (Eng-G2) and the 2012 Scarbrough. His 10 stakes placings include
the 2011 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, the 2012 Al Quoz and King’s Stand, and
the 2013 Nunthorpe and Hong Kong Sprint.

Over his 47-race career, Sole Power brandishes an 11-7-6 line and $3,152,654
in earnings.

Bred by G. Russell in Great Britain, Sole Power was purchased by Lynam for
$58,448 at the DBS Premier Yearling Sale. He is out of the unraced Distant View
mare Demerger, making him a half-brother to Group 3-placed Cornus (Inchinor) and
stakes-placed Sotka (Dutch Art).

Plans call for him to seek a three-peat in the June 16 King’s Stand.

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