POWER SURGE

Soumillon sets himself up for Paris with Perfect win

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON pulled off a Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes smash-and-grab aboard Perfect Power – and then set his sights on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory next Sunday.

Perfect Power, whom the Belgian had partnered to victory in the top-level Prix Morny at Deauville last month, had all bar one of his rivals to pass as Twilight Jet, racing under the stands’ rail, held the lead entering the final quarter mile of the six-furlong Group 1.

But Soumillon, who partners 2-1 favourite Tarnawa for Dermot Weld and the Aga Khan at ParisLongchamp in seven days, coolly switched the Richard Fahey-trained youngster to a seam in the centre of the track to beat Castle Star by half a length.

“After 200 metres I saw that everybody had gone to the fence and I knew it would be a bit more difficult to come from so far back,” said the winning jockey, whose mount was halved from 16-1 to 8-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

“My horse stumbled twice going downhill and I lost a bit of ground, but I didn’t lose confidence in him and, when I took him out, he found his gear.”

Confirmed as Tarnawa’s rider on Tuesday, the 40-year-old added: “She’s a great filly and I think we’re going to be close.

“I won twice on her at Longchamp last season.

“Dermot Weld is probably one of the greatest trainers in the world and he has focused on the Arc 200 percent this season.”

Tenebrism made light of a 181-day absence – Caravaggio’s daughter made a winning debut at Naas back in March – and a step up to Group 1 company for the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, arriving late to hold Flotus by one length.

Aidan O’Brien, welcoming a record-equalling fourth success in the fillies’ test, admitted: “I didn’t think it was possible to do it, not because of ability but because of the lay-off she had.”

The bookies were sweating as 11-2 joint-favourite Anmaat led into the final furlong of the bet365 Cambridgeshire.

But Jamie Spencer swept to the front strides from the post to take the first leg of the ‘Autumn Double’ aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-saddled 40-1 shot Bedouin’s Story.