Perfect Power earns second Royal Ascot success in Commonwealth Cup
Perfect Power (Ardad) followed in the path of filly Campanelle (Kodiac) and Coolmore stallion Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) in winning the Commonwealth Cup (Gr 1, 6f), having a year earlier claimed Royal Ascot success as a two-year-old.
Trained by Richard Fahey, who also prepares Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) winner The Ridler (Brazen Beau), Perfect Power burst from the pack on the far side of the track to add a third Group 1 victory of his career.
In a race which presented many chances that came and went over the six furlong trip, it was Perfect Power, and his rider, French jockey Christophe Soumillon,who timed their run to perfection to win by one and a quarter lengths over the Hugo Palmer-trained Flaming Rib (Ribchester), owned by former Liverpool footballer Michael Owen.
Stakes-winning two-year-old filly Flotus (Starspangledbanner), who fetched 1,000,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year when purchased by Japanese giant Katsumi Yoshida, finished third, a further half-length in arrears.
Seymour Bloodstock’s homebred Boonie (Brazen Beau) finished 16th in the 20-runner field.
Having been tried over a mile in the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at his last start, a race in which he finished seventh, Perfect Power was brought back to six furlongs for his Royal Ascot challenge, and showed a superior staying ability to win from the rear of the field having jumped from barrier one.
“I think today the track was a bit fast for him and with that draw [in stall two] I didn’t have a lot of choice but to set him back,” said Soumillon.
“At the two-furlong marker I saw I was six, seven, lengths behind and I thought I was probably a bit far back. But in the race before I saw that Ryan [Moore] was going on the same line, so the track was looking quite good there and I’d walked it just before.
“I’m sure he can be much better on softer ground, so it’s good news.”
Perfect Power won the Norfolk Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Royal Ascot a year ago, before going on to win the Prix Morny (Gr 1, 1200m) in France and Middle Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Newmarket in a stellar two-year-old campaign.
He stepped up to seven furlongs to win the Greenham Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Newbury, before not staying the Guineas trip.
“That’s the greatness of a top trainer,” said Soumillon. “We had to try to give him a little bit more stamina for the Guineas – we had to try it – now we know he’s a top sprinter.
“He’s a great horse and he has such a big heart because I never thought he would be able to quicken a second time. And in the last 150 [metres] he gave me another turn of foot.
“Last year, I thought he was probably the best speed two-year-old I’d ridden and now at three he’s given another great performance. I hope it’s just the first Group 1 for him this year.”
Perfect Power is the first elite-level winner and one of two stakes winners for his Overbury Stud-based second season sire Ardad (Kodiac), himself a Royal Ascot winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f) as a two-year-old.
Aside from his jockey Soumillon, who rode his third Royal Ascot winner this week, the French theme continues into his pedigree, with Perfect Power tracing back to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Sagamix (Linamix) and his Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Gr 1, 2000m)-winning half-brother Sagacity (Highest Honor).
Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, Perfect Power was sold for £110,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale last year.