Perfect Power Wins The Greenham

Seven furlongs was not beyond Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) as he continued the winning thread in Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury. Tracking Marc Chan's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) as that rival proved too fresh and free on the front end, the 6-4 favourite was sent by him a furlong from home and answered Christophe Soumillon's call to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), with Angel Bleu a nose behind in third.

Soumillon was inclined to think a tilt at the 2000 Guineas would be worth it. “If you don't try to go a mile, you don't know,” the rider said. “The way he ran today, he settled well in the race and he can be very relaxed, and his big turn of foot is what you need in such kinds of races, so why not?” Trainer Richard Fahey added, “I was very confident he would get seven, Christophe said he'd stay seven last year. When a horse has so much speed like he has, it is always a worry on your mind. But today was great and everything worked well. We will sit down and have a think about the Guineas. Whether he will stay a mile, I'm not sure, but what would we have to lose? He settled well enough and was doing a half-speed behind them. He has won at Newmarket, except I didn't think he came down the hill well that day.”

Perfect Power is the first of three foals bred from Sagely (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}), who is a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Upavon Fillies' 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 last 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 the unraced 2-year-old filly Margaret Elizabeth (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and a yearling colt by Galileo Gold (GB) to come.

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
WATERSHIP DOWN STUD TOO DARN HOT GREENHAM S.-G3, £80,000, Newbury, 4-16, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:22.77, gd.
1–PERFECT POWER (IRE), 126, c, 3, 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)
(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. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, $578,592. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lusail (Ire), 126, c, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–Diaminda (Ire), by Diamond Green (Fr). (160,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £17,200.
3–Angel Bleu (Fr), 126, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Cercle de la Vie (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Marc Chan; B-Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock (FR); T-Ralph Beckett. £8,608.
Margins: 1HF, NO, 1. Odds: 1.50, 4.50, 2.75.
Also Ran: Gubbass (Ire), The Wizard of Eye (Ire), Flaming Rib (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.