Power wins the Guineas© Photo Healy Racing
Despite being easy to back Power (50,000 guineas at the sales) landed the Group 1 Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas as Joseph O'Brien made it back-to-back successes in the opening Irish classic.
Fellow Ballydoyle runner Daddy Long Legs looked like he might hold all challengers having set a strong gallop but those efforts took their toll on him as he began to roll around a bit inside the final furlong.
Power shot up the inside to get to the front inside the last as the outsider Foxtrot Romeo was a little bit impeded but he still ran a cracker under Niall McCullagh, going down by a length.
The other Ballydoyle contenders Reply (Fran Berry) were third, the aforementioned Daddy Long Legs (Colm O'Donoghue) was fourth and Wrote (Seamie Heffernan) faded into seventh. Born To Sea came home well from off the pace to finish fifth whilst the favourite Trumpet Major (coughing) disappointed badly, finishing last.
Joseph O'Brien said: "They went a very good gallop and my horse was nice and relaxed. I just creeped away and got plenty of cover.
"Ryan (Moore) rode him at Newmarket and he told me for the first half of the race he felt like a very good horse. He said he just didn't come down the hill on the ground that day."
Aidan O'Brien said: "Newmarket was his first run of the year and it came on soft ground. Maybe he needed it.
"Anyway he was a very solid horse last year and obviously we have to forgive his first run this season now.
"He came forward for the run and when we spoke to Ryan Moore during the week he said that for the first half of the Newmarket race he felt like a serious horse. He was anxious that Joseph would ride him and how right he was.
"He has a lot of class and they can't go too fast in a race for him.
"I have to credit all the team at home including Keith Dalton who rides him out every day – it's a big team effort.
"He's a big powerful horse, hence his name and I'd say he'll go for the St James's Palace now.
"We're in a privileged position and we're very grateful. We're delighted to have the horses and lucky that the lads can keep them in this country.
"Joseph is a massive help as are all the team. When you've somebody that knows about all the horses and the workings of the place it's a big help.
"I'd say Daddy Long Legs will get further, a mile and two on grass.
"The Secretariat Stakes might suit him whilst Camelot is good since Newmarket. He's not a horse that needs a lot – he's ticking over nicely."
The Stewards enquired into the apparent improvement in form of Power (GB), trained by Mr A P O’Brien, winner, compared with his previous run at Newmarket on the 5th of May, when the horse finished 17th of 18, beaten 37 lengths and behind Hermival Trumpet Major and Born To Sea with whom he reversed placings today. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned who stated that Power (GB) was having his first run of the season at Newmarket on ground softer than he handled last year where he ran well for the first half of the race but tired in the latter stages possibly as a result of the ground. He added that Power (GB) raced today at the same body weight as he had at Newmarket and that all routine post race examinations failed to show any abnormalities. He further added that J P O’Brien, rider, was not tied to any instructions and rode him as he found him based on advice from R L Moore who rode him previously at Newmarket. Evidence was also heard from Mr Garry O’Gorman, Turf Club Handicapper, who stated that Power (GB) was one of the highest rated two year olds in Europe in 2011 and, apart from his disappointing run at Newmarket, was entitled to be a leading player today.
Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the trainer’s explanation. (GC & EM)
