Power is a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Coventry Stakes and the National Stakes as a two-year-old in 2011. In May 2012 he won the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Power
Racing colours of Michael Tabor
SireOasis Dream
GrandsireGreen Desert
DamFrappe
DamsireInchinor
SexStallion
Foaled6 March 2009
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
BreederNorelands & Hugo Lascelles
OwnerDerrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor
TrainerAidan O'Brien
Record9: 5-2-0
Earnings£429,539
Major wins
Coventry Stakes (2011)
National Stakes (2011)
Irish 2000 Guineas (2012)

Background

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Power is a "big, powerful"[1] bay horse with a white star. He was sired by the European Champion Sprinter Oasis Dream out of the mare Frappe. Frappe also produced the Ribblesdale Stakes winner Thakafaat and was a half sister of the 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand. Power was acquired by the Coolmore organisation and sent into training with Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle.[citation needed]

Racing career

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2011: two-year-old season

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Power began his racing career by winning a six furlong maiden race at the Curragh in early May and then won the Listed Marble Hill Stakes at the same venue three weeks later.[2] In the latter race, he got the better of Tough As Nails to win by a short head.[3]

In June Power was sent to England to contest the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot for which he started the 4/1 favourite in a field of twenty-three runners. Ridden by Ryan Moore, he was towards the back of the field[1] before making progress to take the lead inside the final furlong to win by a neck from Roman Soldier.[4] In August, Power returned to Ireland and started 7/4 favourite for the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. He took the lead two furlongs from the finish but was overtaken in the last fifty yards by the filly La Collina who produced a "devastating turn of foot" to win by a neck.[5]

A month later, Power started second favourite for the National Stakes over seven furlongs. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, he tracked the leaders before taking the lead inside the final furlong and held the late challenge[6] of the favourite Dragon Pulse to win by half a length.[7] After the race, Heffernan called him a tough, strong and genuine colt.[8] On his final appearance of the season, Power started 15/8 favourite for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. He "kept on well" in the last furlong to finish second, beaten half a length by his fellow Irish challenger Parish Hall.

2012: three-year-old season

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On his first appearance of 2012, Power was sent to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas in which he started second favourite behind his stable companion Camelot. He made no impact in the race and was eased in the closing stages to finish seventeenth of the eighteen runners behind Camelot. Three weeks after his run at Newmarket, Power started at odds of 5/1 in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He took the lead inside the final furlong to win by a length from Foxtrot Romeo.[9] He was ridden in the race by his trainer's son Joseph O'Brien, who described Power as "a classy horse" with "plenty of speed".[10] Aidan O'Brien was so delighted by the result that he was unaware until told by journalists that his other runners had finished third and fourth.[11]

On 19 June, Power started favourite for the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but was never in contention in a rough race and finished unplaced behind Most Improved. Power sustained an injury in the Ascot race from which he never fully recovered. In October it was announced that he would be retired to the Coolmore Stud.[12]

Stud career

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After standing for five seasons at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, Power was sold to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand where he was the leading first-season sire during the 2016-17 season. In 2019, he was relocated to Oaklands Stud in Queensland, Australia.[13]

Notable progeny

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Power has sired three Group 1 winners:

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
2017 Helvic Dream g Tattersalls Gold Cup
2017 Sonnyboyliston g Irish St Leger
2018 Laws of Indices c Prix Jean Prat

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Power (GB), bay stallion, 2009
Sire
Oasis Dream
2000
Green Desert
1983
Danzig Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
Foreign Courier Sir Ivor
Courtly Dee
Hope
1991
Dancing Brave Lyphard
Navajo Princess
Bahamian Mill Reef
Sorbus
Dam
Frappe
1996
Inchinor
1990
Ahonoora Lorenzaccio
Helen Nichols
Inchmurrin Lomond
On Show
Glatisant
1991
Rainbow Quest Blushing Groom
I Will Follow
Dancing Rocks Green Dancer
Croda Rossa (Family: 1-e)

References

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  1. ^ a b "POWER GRABS THE GLORY IN THE COVENTRY". Sporting Life. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-05-27.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Marble Hill Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  3. ^ "Tough as Nails has six appeal". Belfasttelegraph.
  4. ^ "Coventry Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  5. ^ "LA COLLINA SPIKES PHOENIX BIG GUNS". Sporting Life. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-05-27.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Power turned back on in National Stakes". Rte.ie. 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  7. ^ "National Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  8. ^ "Power takes Goffs National Stakes". Thoroughbred Times. 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  9. ^ "Irish 2000 Guineas". Racing Post. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  10. ^ "Power wins Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas for O'Briens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  11. ^ Chris Cook at the Curragh (2012-05-26). "Power surge in Irish 2000 Guineas leaves Aidan O'Brien gasping". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  12. ^ "At the Races News".
  13. ^ "Power switched to Oaklands Stud in Queensland". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 November 2019.