RACING:THAT SOLE Power's shock 100 to 1 success in York's Nunthorpe Stakes at York was a skinner for punters put the cherry on top of the Group One cake for Paddy Power who might just have been the happiest bookmaker in the world yesterday.
Sole Power races in the colours of Sabena Power, wife of one of the biggest layers in the Irish on-course betting ring, David, and mother of Paddy, who is the public face of the off-course betting giant. Before yesterday those connections were probably the best known thing about the unheralded three-year-old, whose only two previous victories were on Dundalk’s all-weather track.
But Sole Power seemed a transformed animal on the Knavesmire as he beat off Aidan O’Brien’s Australian-bred superstar sprinter Starspangledbanner to secure a maiden Group One success for trainer Eddie Lynam and jockey Wayne Lordan.
The Cork-born rider caught the stunned popular mood at York when admitting he hadn’t thought his horse had a chance of winning but grinned: “I’m happy to take it. I didn’t think he had much chance as I felt three-year-olds would have it tough in a race like this.”
However Dublin-born Lynam, who trains in Co Meath, managed to give the impression of someone completely prepared to greet the biggest success of his career.
“We’ve always rated this horse. It’s just that he’s been mentally immature. Sprints in Ireland haven’t suited him because he can’t relax in them. They don’t go fast enough. But that wasn’t going to be a problem in a Nunthorpe and we were always coming here. David Power knows a bit about form and he was very keen,” Lynam said.
David Power is one of the big-hitters on some of Britain’s big betting rings too and with his professional hat on, it must have been sweet indeed to see his outsider get the better of the 6 to 4 favourite.
O’Brien said of Starspangledbanner: “We were drawn out wide and that’s a lonely furrow to go and plough on your own. It would have been better to have been drawn in the middle.”
Paddy Power, in relation to the company’s decision to refund losing bets on Sariska, said later: “Maybe my Mammy winning the Nunthorpe is a bit of karma for refunding losing bets!”
Lynam revealed the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day could be next for his gelding if ground conditions are suitable. But he added: “We love York and hopefully we can run in the race for years to come.”
