Fahey ‘panic’ over as Perfect Power storms home
Richard Fahey might have had a quieter Ebor meeting than he usually does on the Knavesmire last week, but the Yorkshire trainer claimed the prestigious Prix Morny at Deauville with Perfect Power yesterday.
The colt, ridden by Christophe Soumillon – always a good man to have on your side in a French Group One face – was settled at the back and then proceeded to scythe through the field.
He hit the front 60 yards out and beat the French colt Trident by a length and a quarter. Asymmetric – trained by Alan King, who is getting a taste for Group One Flat races – was a close-up third.
“He’s a laid-back character, but I always thought he was pretty smart,” Fahey said of the winner. “I
imagine he’s a nice horse to ride at the races because you wouldn’t feel he was ever going to get flustered.”
That was in contrast to the trainer. “I was panicking there – maybe Christophe wasn’t, but he’s a better jockey than I ever was or will be – but it was just great to see him coming through. He was very buzzy when he came to us, but he came back to earth after a couple of weeks. That’s what the breeze-up lads have to do. He soon learnt and he’s been very simple since.”
Audarya, James Fanshawe’s filly who won last year’s Prix Jean Romanet before going on to triumph at the Breeders’ Cup, was narrowly denied a second win in the race by 33-1 outsider Grand Glory.
“She ran very well and the last 100 metres seemed a long way,” Fanshawe said. “It’s good to see her back after Goodwood [she disappointed in the Nassau]. She’s run really well and it’s just annoying she got beaten.”
Lady Bowthorpe, who beat her comprehensively in the Nassau, finished down the field. “She hasn’t run to her Goodwood form,” said trainer William Jarvis, who could find no immediate reason for the poor performance.