Slade Power: all but sealed champion sprinter honours in the July Cup

 PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Slade too powerful for July Cup rivals

Report: Newmarket, Saturday

Darley July Cup (Group 1) 6f, 3yo+

SLADE POWER cemented his position as the leading sprinter in Europe when following up Royal Ascot success with a blistering win in the feature race of the July festival.

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The field split into two groups but it made no difference toSlade Power, who burst through to lead the far side posse a furlong out and was well on top of his rivals at the line from Tropics and Gregorian towards the stands’ side.

The splitting field, not for the first time, was instigated by Christophe Soumillon on Spanish speedster Noozhoh Canarias, who made a beeline for the far side rail from his draw in 11, which those drawn any higher followed.

Unlike in the 2,000 Guineas, where Soumillon executed a similar tactic, Noozhoh Canarias could never gain a meaningful advantage as he dropped back to six furlongs and was waving the white flag as Slade Power moved through effortlessly to head his group.

Despite being awash with sweat, 7-4 favourite Slade Power had bundles of energy left and showed a sharp turn of foot to secure the race in a matter of strides, all but sealing champion sprinter honours in the process.

“He has really stepped forward this year – it’s great to win a second Group 1,” beamed winning jockey Wayne Lordan.

He added: “He travels well in your hands without being free and you can ride him behind the pace. I just had one look across at the other group and we weren’t too far behind and I just hoped the horse in front of me would take me there. He finished out the race well and I’m delighted for [trainer] Eddie Lynam and the horse.”

Soft ground robbed the race of dual King’s Stand Stakes winner Sole Power and Due Diligence, second to Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot, and Slade Power’s main rivals according to the rejigged market also failed to shine.

Hot Streak faded into seventh, while Aljamaaheer was a further two places back in ninth, both having raced in the same group as the eventual winner.

The advantage in the early stages appeared to be with the stands’ side group, which perhaps highlights the winner’s superiority in this division as he easily overcame any bias.

Tropics, an unheralded 66-1 shot, ran a mighty race to finish runner-up, narrowly holding Gregorian with US-challenger Undrafted a close fourth.

Winning trainer Lynam said: “Today he has proved he is the best sprinter in Europe and we want to prove he is the best in the world. It was probably a muddling messy sort of race today but I have always spoken of him very highly. I’m looking forward to running him in Australia in his last race.”

Asked about putting the record straight in the Betfred Sprint Cup in which he was beaten by Gordon Lord Byron last year, Lynam added: “There is eight weeks between now and Haydock and eight weeks before Australia.”

Slade Power will complete his career on the track in the A$1 million VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington on November 8, before taking up stud duties with Darley.

Heaven’s Guest (green cap) winning the Bunbury Cup

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Heaven’s comes from skies in Bunbury Cup

Report: Newmarket, Saturday

666bet Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) 7f, 3yo+

HEAVEN’S GUEST, out of sorts in four starts this year, bounced back to form to claim this prestigious handicap for trainerRichard Fahey and jockey Tony Hamilton at 12-1.

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It was somewhat appropriate given the name of the race’s sponsor that number six should prevail and a little odd that Heaven’s Guest should be followed home by number seven (Absolutely So) and number eight (Hoodna).

The trio came off a furious pace set by Ertijaal, who boiled over in the paddock and looked a real handful on the track, and it probably helped Heaven’s Guest that he came from furthest back.

Hamilton made his challenge late and his mount responded with a decisive finishing kick.

A depleted field of 13 contested the £120,000 handicap as there were seven non-runners – six out on account of the ground – but Heaven’s Guest, a winner of another big prize at the July festival 12 months ago, relished the conditions.

Hamilton said: “He appreciated the bit of rain with the ground on the easy side of the good. He travelled well and done it well in the end. He is a grand old horse and he loves a battle.”

The 28,000gns purchase looked to be paying the price for last season’s exploits and finished out the back in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.

But the four-year-old showed a professional attitude and has paid back connections in spades as this success took his career earnings close to £300,000.

Fahey added: “He’s a good, hardy sprint handicapper and that ground seems to suit him.”

For the second successive time, runner-up Absolutely So was supported in the market and, like Hoodna in the third, performed with credit.

In contrast, Abseil, sent off favourite in a first-time hood, failed to land a blow and was well beaten from as far out as halfway.

Estidhkaar: 20-1 for 2,000 Guineas after Newmarket win

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Estidhkaar reigns supreme in Superlative

Report: Newmarket, Saturday

666bet Superlative Stakes (Group 2) 7f, 2yo

ESTIDHKAAR earned a quote of 20-1 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas when running out an impressive winner of the Superlative Stakes, storming away from his opposition in the final furlong.

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The Richard Hannon-trained colt was sent off the 15-8 favourite in the absence of Aidan O’Brien’s Gleneagles, and his supporters never had a moment’s doubt.

Aktabantay was second with Cock Of The North in third.

In what was a muddling pace, Paul Hanagan always had the hard-pulling Estidhkaar - a half-brother to the stable’s Toormore – close to the lead.

As the furlong marker approached it looked as if Aktabantay would pose a realistic threat on the stands’ side, but he was soon put in his place by the winner, who was quoted at 20-1 by Betfred for next year’s Guineas.

A delighted Hannon said: “I thought he was a little keen early and he’s not normally like that. He gets on with the job and he impressed me – he looks like he will get further.”

GOING: SOFT (6.3; Far Side 6.1, Centre 6.3, Stands’ Side 6.5) changing to GOOD TO SOFT after race 1 (2.05). Weather conditions: Cloudy with sunny spells. 
STALLS: Stands’ side course: 1m 4f – Centre; Remainder – Stands’ side