Perfect Power put in a near perfect performance to take the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup sprint at Royal Ascot.

Richard Fahey’s three-year-old was allowed the luxury of a leisurely start but the Ardad colt just had too much speed at the business end as he powered on to a facile one and a quarter length win.

It was a competitive renewal with Perfect Power facing plenty of top level opposition over six furlongs on a sweltering Royal Ascot afternoon.

Perfect Power went off the 7/2 favourite but was pushed for top of the market status by Karl Burke’s Havana Gold colt El Caballo, Michael O’Callaghan’s Twilight Jet, Richard Hannon’s Shadwell sprinter Ehraz and David Loughnane’s rapid Go Bears Go.

For a second or two it seemed like Simon and Ed Crisford’s Flotus might provide a shock winner at 40/1, while Hugo Palmer’s Flaming Rib also looked like scoring for the Michael Owen stable.

Yet, Prix Morny winner Perfect Power (7/2) proved a level above this crowd, emerging at the right time to skip on for a cosy favourite’s victory.

Flaming Rib was an apt one and a quarter length second on a sizzling day at a tasty 14/1 while Flotus and Aidan O’Brien’s Cadomasto outran their 40/1 odds to finish third and fourth respectively.

 

Fahey said: "We hoped this lad would stay but he's definitely happier back sprinting. He's a great doer and an absolute pleasure to train. You can switch him on and off.
"Christophe doesn't need any instructions. He loves him and so do I. I think we will stay sprinting with him and probably head for the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs at Deauville.
"I was further back than I wanted, but Christophe Soumillon is the man.
"It's fantastic. When you have a great belief in a horse and he doesn't let you down - it's fantastic.
"When you're a small trainer from the north of England, you need Group One horses. He has won three Group Ones now, it will be four soon. He is a special horse."