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Art Power continues Irish love affair with Sapphire success

Tim Easterby’s stunning grey made it five from five in Ireland with victory in the Group 2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes and remained unbeaten at the Curragh on Irish Oaks Day.

ART POWER winning the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Ascot in England.
ART POWER winning the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Ascot in England. Picture: Media Image

The six-year-old was sent off the 6/5 favourite to claim yet another Irish victory having won the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes in May prior to facing a pair of Group 1 assignments, including when fourth in the July Cup at Newmarket just a week ago.

He travelled strongly under David Allan, taking up the running at the halfway stage before kicking clear for an impressive four-and-a-quarter length success.

The 6/1 chance Go Athletico won the battle for second with Moss Tucker (10/1) a further head behind in third.

Winning rider, David Allan said: "He's been awesome, and he loves coming to Ireland for some reason, nobody knows why but he seems to come to life here."

"Bringing him back to five we thought might be an issue, but I've always been confident five is going to be okay for him, especially if the ground is soft.

"It went right up his street today and it all worked out perfect. I was confident enough but a little unsure about coming back to five furlongs.

"The way he was powering up that hill I thought 'they can't go that fast to catch me', especially in that ground – he was powering away."

A trip back to the Curragh seemingly beckons as Allans added: "I'd imagine he'll have to [come back to Ireland] won't he, any race we can find we'll run him in!

"You don't have to do anything fancy on him, you can just bounce out and let him run his race.

"He's run well in some Group 1s in England, but he's just not got to it yet. I think if he gets proper soft ground, it might just happen one day."

 Paddy Power trimmed the grey from 10/1 to 8/1 for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York next month.


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