Eddie Lynam is looking forward to another busy campaign for tough-as-teak sprinter Sole Power after he deservedly became a multiple Group One winner with victory in a thrilling King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A shock 100-1 winner of the Nunthorpe in 2010 for his then little-known County Meath-based trainer, Sole Power has proved his Knavesmire victory was no fluke on countless occasions since.
Churning out consistently top-notch efforts in Britain, Ireland, France and Dubai, the six-year-old has been an incredible servant to his connections, and Lynam was unsurprisingly beaming from ear to ear as his pride and joy returned to the winner’s circle on the grandest stage of them all.
Australia’s hopes of winning another King’s Stand rested with Shamexpress but the three-year-old disappointed in finishing a distant ninth.
“He seemed to travel well, he was in a good position but he didn’t go on with it,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.
“When I expected him to put in his bid, he had reached the end of it.
“We’ll have to assess him and see what we’re going to do.”
Sent off at 8-1 for what was always going to be a fiercely-run affair, Sole Power looked to have plenty of work to do as he entered the last of five furlongs.
Mike de Kock-trained 11-4 favourite Shea Shea, who had beaten Sole Power twice at Meydan earlier in the year, made the best of his way home on the far side of the track and looked likely to give South Africa a maiden Royal Ascot victory.
However, just as he has done on so many occasions at this meeting down the years, Sole Power’s regular rider Johnny Murtagh timed it just right and his mount flew home towards the stands side to get up right on the line.
As the pair were so far apart, the result went to a photo finish, but the judge confirmed the Irish runner the victor by a neck.
The triumph gave Murtagh his 40th Royal winner and Lynam his first.
“He’s not always been lucky, but he’s always been good,” Lynam said.
“He’s won a Palace House, a Temple and the Nunthorpe at 100-1. He’s one of the proper ones.
“I’m delighted for the horse and the whole family and he’ll now go for the July Cup.
“Then he’ll go for the Nunthorpe, the Prix de l’Abbaye and across for the Hong Kong Sprint.”
