Dark Angel’s Art Power Prevails In Champions Sprint Thriller

[Wandering Eyes]

There was one attendee at Ascot on Saturday that refused to succumb to Frankie fever and that was King Power's grey enigma Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Evening Time {Ire}, by Keltos {Fr}) who on his 15th attempt at group 1 level finally made the breakthrough in the Qipco British Champions Sprint. Blazing the trail in isolation in his habitual style, the star of the Tim Easterby yard looked set to play second fiddle as Dettori edged ahead late on the 5-4 favourite Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) but this time refused to relinquish and battled back to provide David Allan with his first top-level triumph at 40-1. There was a neck between the pair at the line, with Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}) two lengths away in third.

“He winged the gates and I just had to sit still and not go too early,” Allan said. “When Frankie came I thought that was it, but he really dug in the last half furlong and I couldn't believe he got back up. He really stuck his neck out and I couldn't pull him up after the line. He was bouncing today and has his perfect ground–he doesn't like it sticky, just wet enough to use his speed. I was thinking 'is he ever going to win one of these?' but he was awesome today–I couldn't believe how well he travelled.”

 

Another Frankie fairytale finale… nearly ART POWER denies KINROSS back-to-back successes in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint at #Ascot with a gutsy ride out in front congratulations to David Allan, @EasterbyTim, and King Power Racing pic.twitter.com/HG3ppw4xm8

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) October 21, 2023

 

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 10-21, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:16.92, sf.
1–ART POWER (IRE), 130, g, 6, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Evening Time (Ire) (MSW & MGSP-Ire, $167,992), by Keltos (Fr)
2nd Dam: Shadow Casting (GB), by Warning (GB)
3rd Dam: Fanciful (Fr), by Gay Mecene
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€110,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Tim Easterby; J-David Allan. £283,550. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Ire, 31-9-0-3, $966,504. *1/2 to Penny Pepper (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), GSW-Ire, $124,311; Morning Frost (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), SW-Fr; and Shaan (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), SP-US. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kinross (GB), 130, g, 6, Kingman (GB)–Ceilidh House (GB), by Selkirk. O-Marc Chan; B-Lawn Stud (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £107,500.
3–Spycatcher (Ire), 130, g, 5, Vadamos (Fr)–Damask (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire). (90,000gns 2yo '20 TATBRE). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Adriana Zaefferer); B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Karl Burke. £53,800.
Margins: NK, 2, NK. Odds: 40.00, 1.25, 11.00.
Also Ran: Swingalong (Ire), Run To Freedom (GB), Makarova (GB), Vadream (GB), Mill Stream (Ire), Sandrine (GB), Sense of Duty (GB), Believing (Ire), Magical Sunset (Ire), Ocean Quest (Ire), Rohaan (Ire), Saint Lawrence (Ire).

The post Dark Angel’s Art Power Prevails In Champions Sprint Thriller appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article