SOLE POWER has a history of beating the odds but the sole Irish starter in this Sunday morning’s international extravaganza in Hong Kong faces a huge challenge if he is to join an exclusive list.
Just two Irish-trained horses have ever won at the hugely-valuable festival at the Sha Tin track – Additional Risk in the 1991 Mile and Alexander Goldrun in the 2004 Cup.
Star names such as the Arc hero Dylan Thomas have failed to cut it in Hong Kong and Sole Power’s tilt at the €1.3 million Sprint this weekend is a major challenge for last year’s shock Nunthorpe winner.
The gelding who races in the colours of Sabena Power, mother of high-profile bookmaker Paddy Power, is a general 20 to 1 outsider for Sunday’s race where he tackles star international sprinters such as the 2007 and 2009 winner Sacred Kingdom and the Singapore champion Rocket Man, who is rated one of the top speedster in the world.
European sprinters have never been successful since the big sprint was first run in 1999 but trainer Eddie Lynam made the journey to the Far East yesterday in hopeful mood and mindful of how his stable star was 100 to 1 when landing the Nunthorpe.
“I believe only one European sprinter has even been placed in the race since its inception and we definitely face a big task. But we feel that if our horse settles he could run a big race. Keagan Latham rides and we’ll have a go. We won’t be 100 to 1 this time!” said Lynam.
Rocket Man is currently a 2 to 1 favourite in most ante-post lists for a race that is also set to include the British sprinters Bated Breath and Society Rock. Sole Power in comparison is an outsider although significantly the Paddy Power firm rate his chance at just 10 to 1.
Sole Power has never won beyond five furlongs but Lynam reckons the six-furlong trip on Sunday could help his horse.
“It’s six but they’ll go a five-furlong pace and that will help our horse to settle. That’s the important thing. It’s around two bends but that will be no trouble to him.
“He has travelled over great. He drank and ate and was out for a stretch on the track this morning. We’ve no excuses yet!” Lynam added.
“Rocket Man is rated something like 125 and we’re 117. There are two very good Japanese horses there too as well as Sacred Kingdom and Bated Breath. They look the big five. But we’re hopeful.”
The trainer has already had a runner at the big Cathay Pacific festival when Duff ran in the 2009 Mile and the positive impression endures from that experience.
“The way you are treated over there is first class. Sole Power was flown over there on his own, owners, trainers, jockeys and staff get treated very well, and the atmosphere is brilliant,” he added.
There has already been an Irish success in the Far East with champion jockey Johnny Murtagh winning an international riders challenge in Japan at the weekend.
Murtagh beat the local rider Hiroto Yoshihara in the last race of a series that also included the British champion Paul Hanagan and the top American pilot Johnny Velazquez.
