Ardad's Perfect Power Battles To Prix Morny Glory

Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's 2-year-old colt Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by Kodiac {GB}) when plundering Royal Ascot's June 17 G2 Norfolk S. and, despite a blip when fifth in last month's July 29 G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood, notched another first for the Overbury Stud incumbent with a decisive victory in Sunday's G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville, a “Win And You're In” for the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November. The January-foaled bay had earlier bettered a May 25 debut third at Newcastle with a 2 1/4-length graduation over five furlongs at Hamilton and was  renewing rivalry with Richmond S. winner Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and a host of others in this straight six-furlong dash. Anchored at the tail of the field by Christophe Soumillon and under cover through halfway as Solotov (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) set the early fractions, the 19-5 second favourite inched ever closer once leaving the quarter-mile marker behind and quickened smartly under late rousting after joining the front rank at the eighth pole to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths from Trident (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

“He was quite unlucky in the Richmond and I'd have been very disappointed if he had not beaten all the horses that had finished in front of him in that race,” said the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond. “I'm not saying I though he'd win, but I was expecting a good run from the horse. It was a slow, messy race and he had to work his way through horses on more than one occasion. It worked out beautifully in the end. He is all speed and a pure sprinter so the logical step would be to go to the [Sept. 25 G1 Juddmonte] Middle Park S. [at Newmarket] next. We hope he trains on next year and we'll see what happens when the time comes.”

Perfect Power engaged in a minor tussle with eventual runner-up Trident approaching the final furlong and the latter's rider Mickael Barzalona commented, “I'm certainly disappointed to have been beaten, which is always the case when you finish second in a Group 1 race. However, it was only the third run of his life and I'm delighted with that. I think he will stay further.”

Martin Harley, who was also in the plate for Asymmetric's G2 Richmond success, added, “I had some concerns about the [good-to-soft] ground beforehand, but he travelled smoothly throughout the race. I thought we might have a chance of winning with 2 1/2 furlongs to race, but he didn't quicken as I thought he might when I asked him. He really would have liked it faster and I expect the Middle Park will be his next stop.”

Perfect Power becomes the first Group 1 winner for his first-crop sire (by Kodiac {GB}) and is the first foal bred from Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}), herself a dual-winning half-sister to the Listed Upavon S. runner-up Sagaciously (Ire) (Lawman {Ire}). Descendants of the January-foaled bay's third dam Saga d'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) include Listed Derby du Midi victor Sagaroi (Fr) (King's Best), Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon scorer Sagauteur (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) and this year's Listed Prix Maurice Zilber-winning G1 Prix Rothschild runner-up Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Saga d'Ouilly is a full-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning sire Sagamix (Fr) and G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Sage et Jolie (Fr), herself the dam of G1 Prix d'Ispahan-winning sire Sageburg (Fr) (Johannesburg). His fourth dam, G2 Prix de Royallieu winner Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), is responsible for G1 Grand Criterium victor and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe placegetter Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and Listed Pontefract Castle S. runner-up Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), herself the dam of five stakes winners headed by G1 International S. and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and his G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase-winning full-brother Mogul (GB). Sagely has a yearling filly by Kodiac (GB) and a weanling colt by Galileo Gold (GB) to come.

Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX MORNY – FINALE DES DARLEY SERIES-G1, €350,000, Deauville, 8-22, 2yo, c/f, 6fT, 1:10.81, g/s.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Ardad (Ire)
1st Dam: Sagely (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
2nd Dam: Saga Celebre (Fr), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Saga d'Ouilly (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (16,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT; £110,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey; J-Christophe Soumillon. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 5-3-0-1, €262,322. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Trident (Fr), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Mezzo Mezzo (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). (€140,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-David Smaga & Mme Marie-Benedicte Fougy-Smaga (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €80,010.
3–Asymmetric (Ire), 126, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Swirral Edge (GB), by Hellvelyn (GB). (65,000gns Ylg '20 TADEYG; 150,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Ms Leora Judah; B-Redpender Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Alan King. €40,005.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, HF. Odds: 3.80, 13.00, 4.40.
Also Ran: Armor (GB), Gubbass (Ire), Have A Good Day (Ire), Baghed (GB), Toimy Son (Fr), Quick Suzy (Ire), Khunan (GB), Velocidad (GB), January Moon (Fr), Josejosephine (Fr), Solotov (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.