Weekend Review: Power surges to Guineas glory

Bated Breath got the better of a thrilling finish to land the Temple Stakes on Saturday afternoon, Roger Charlton's five-year-old victorious on just his second try over minimum trip, recording a Timeform rating of 123 in the process. Bated Breath travelled as well as any for much of the way before demonstrating a sharp turn of foot and willing attitude to hold off the late charge of Sole Power, the pair pulling clear of the field and breaking the track record. The King's Stand is now the likely target for both, Sole Power a five-furlong specialist and Bated Breath's connections content to avoid Black Caviar in the Golden Jubilee as they go in search of an elusive Group 1 victory.

Gabrial was the winner of the handicap feature at Haydock on Saturday, demonstrating stamina to be his forte when reeling back Lucky Henry and Switzerland inside the closing stages of the Silver Bowl Stakes. The manner of his victory suggested there could be even more to come from the Marwan Koukash-owned runner and the Brittania Handicap at Royal Ascot would seem his next logical assignment.

There was also quality racing at Goodwood on Saturday with two listed races on a fascinating card. The ten-furlong Festival Stakes was won by Sir Henry Cecil's Jet Away, the Khalid Abdullah-owned runner demonstrating a smart turn of foot to see off Fiorente and Retrieve. Jet Away travelled like the best horse in Saturday's contest and could be called the winner from some way out, whilst Fiorente shaped as though a step up in trip could bring about some improvement.

Sea Moon was a gallant winner of the one-and-a-half-mile Tapster Stakes on the same card, demonstrating a determined attitude to see off challenges from both Cill Rialaig and Dandino to land the victory on his seasonal reappearance. Sea Moon had to set his own pace with his three rivals unwilling to take him on in the early stages but Ryan Moore began to niggle away on the four-year-old as the race began to hot up and he did look beaten before finding plenty for pressure inside the closing stages. Sea Moon shaped as if twelve furlongs could prove his absolute minimum this year and he is another who could improve for a step up in trip.

There was also listed action at York on Saturday afternoon and Frankie Dettori's trip to the Knavesmire was made worthwhile by Cavalryman landing the Grand Cup by two lengths. Cavalryman has never quite matched the level of form he had demonstrated as a three-year-old with Andre Fabre in France since joining Godolphin but Saturday is likely to have improved his confidence and he'll be back in Group company on his next outing.

The racing highlight this weekend, however, was over at the Curragh in Ireland where Power took the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday by a length from outsider Foxtrot Romeo. The winner's stablemates Daddy Long Legs and Wrote set the pace for much of the way but Joseph O'Brien gave Power an excellent ride, weaving the colt through and delivering him late at the finish. The St James' Palace Stakes is likely to be next on the agenda for Power whose Timeform master rating now stands at 119.

The Group 3 Greenlands Stakes and the Group 3 Equestrian Stakes were the other pattern races on the Curragh card with Tiddliwinks taking the former and Emulous successful in the latter. Both could now head to Royal Ascot with Tiddliwinks a possible for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and Emulous on track to run in the Windsor Forest.

There was further Flat action from Chester, Lingfield and Newbury in Britain on Saturday, as well as some top quality international racing. Sea Siren was the winner of the Doomben 10000 in Australia, beating Buffering into second with Temple of Boom back in third.
Over in America, Aruna took the Group 2 Sheepshead Stakes at Belmont Park, with ex-Sir Henry Cecil mare Principal Role only managing to finish third.

There was jumps racing at Kelso and Fakenham on Sunday afternoon but, once again, eyes were fixed firmly on the Curragh for the second Irish Classic of the weekend. A return to a sounder surface helped Samitar spring a surprise in the Irish 1000 Guineas, with favourite Homecoming Queen only managing fourth. Mick Channon's three-year-old travelled best of all before producing her effort a furlong out and staying on to the line. The Coronation Stakes looks to be the most likely target now, giving the filly around three weeks to recover.

So You Think was victorious in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier on the card, the six-year-old maintaining his 100% record in Ireland in impressive fashion. He won as comfortably as he had 12 months ago and, whilst he hasn't proved himself to be quite the superstar that his Australian reputation suggested, Sunday's 130-rated performance will make him difficult to beat wherever connections decide to go next, the Prince of Wales' Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes appearing the most likely targets.

Speaking of Which was victorious in the other Group race at the Curragh on Sunday, setting down a marker for the Irish Derby with his runaway victory in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes. Speaking of Which produced one of the best performances seen by a three-year-old this season and, whilst his pedigree suggests plenty of speed, his style suggests he should have the requisite stamina to see out a mile and a half, Dermot Weld's runner likely to prove a force in the top middle-distance races this season.