Racing:Edward Lynam's Sole Power supplied one of the biggest shocks of the season with a 100-1 victory in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York. The three-year-old, whose only two previous successes had come on the all-weather at Dundalk, was always travelling well for Wayne Lordan as visored filly Rose Blossom set a scorching early gallop.
Hot favourite Starspangledbanner appeared caught out by the early pace of the race and although he began to get going late in the day, Sole Power had already flown and passed the post with something to spare over Aidan O'Brien's charge.
"We always rated the horse. He's a very very fast horse, but he has been immature," Lynam said. "We thought this race would suit him. I'm not saying we thought he'd win. His owner was keen to run and he knows a bit about form. He'll be a better horse next year.
"He's been disappointing since the Palace House, but they go too slow for him in the sprints in Ireland.
"He broke the track record at Dundalk and this is a lucky place for us, we've done well here before."
Lordan added: "I didn't think I'd have much of a chance. He ran well at Newmarket earlier in the year and I thought he might be a horse who might take his chance next year.
"It's hard for a three-year-old against older horses but they went very quick and he's picked up and done it very well, so it was good."
Lynam went on: "If the ground is like it usually is in France and they get French soft ground for the Prix de l'Abbaye we won't go, but if it is a sunny day we will.
"We love York and hopefully we can run in this race for many years to come."
Lordan, who had missed the winning ride in the Ebor on Dirar due to his commitments with Tommy Stack, added: "I knew it would be tough for a three-year-old against his elders and they went plenty quick enough.
"I hoped I'd finish somewhere in the middle but it's worked out much much better than that."
O'Brien said of the runner-up: "He ran a great race and we have no complaints. "Johnny (Murtagh) said he would have loved to have been drawn near the middle, but he's a very classy horse.
"He was drawn out wide and it's a long lonely furrow to go and plough on your own. It didn't look like it was an advantage to be where we were, it would have been better to have been drawn near the middle than where he.
"But those were the cards we were dealt and he was coming home hand over fist.
"He's a very fast horse, but he's won over a mile in Australia and gets a trip very well.
"He's also got an awful lot of speed."
Seen as a future stallion, Starspangledbanner has already won two Group One events this season, and when asked if he would carry on O'Brien said: "I think so but we'll have to go home and talk to everybody about it.
"All credit to Eddie and the owner and the jockey, it was a great training performance so all credit to them."