Powerful Glory produced one of the greatest shocks in horse racing history with a remarkable 200/1 last-gasp success in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint.
The lightly raced winner was the beneficiary of another masterful ride on Ascot’s Straight Course from Jamie Spencer, who smuggled the three-year-old into contention in the near side group before getting up to collar 2/1 favourite Lazzat in the final strides.
Winner of the G2 Mill Reef Stakes last year, Powerful Glory usurps 150/1 Sussex Stakes scorer Qirat as the longest-priced winner of a Group One race in the UK. The son of Cotai Glory required wind surgery earlier in the year and lined up after finishing last of five in a conditions race at Beverley.
This was a second QIPCO British Champions Sprint victory for trainer Richard Fahey, who lifted the prize in 2018 with Sands Of Mali, and a second for Spencer, who gave Maarek a similarly brilliant ride in 2012.
Fahey said: “Powerful Glory was undefeated as a two-year-old, including in the Mill Reef on ground no doubt he hated. The plan was to get him ready for the Commonwealth Cup, but we had our prep and he completely emptied, so we did some investigations and he had a tiny wind issue. Of course, we had to do the operation and recuperation.
“This race closed ages ago, so even after that first disappointing run, I had made the entry. I would have loved to get a run into him and the only one I could find was a five-furlong race at Beverley – I had to run him, and fair play to Sheikh Rashid, I said, ‘sir, the horse will need this badly’. I always love to get a run into them after a wind operation, to get a bit of confidence into them that they are right now. You could say he was disappointing, but I was delighted, if that makes sense, as he was staying on again at the end of a sharp five at Beverley.
“Since Beverley, he has been training extremely well. I am not saying I thought he would come here and nearly win, but I knew he would do his best and, when I saw 200/1, I nearly had a bet. I don’t bet, but I nearly had a bet. We have seen the real Powerful Glory today – and he has only had four starts.
“I am delighted for everybody; it has been tricky for us this year, and to finish with a Group One is fantastic, especially for Sheikh Rashid, who has been a huge supporter for me. It is always great to reward owners that are faithful to you.”
Spencer said: “I am lost for words. Powerful Glory is a good horse and travelled nicely. I thought I was going to be placed and all of a sudden I thought I actually have a chance. He jinked a little bit left and I had to put my whip away and I thought ‘oh, I pray I’ve held on’. Just shocked really. James [Doyle] was second and he is one of my best friends – disbelief!
“I have known Richard a long time – great guy, great trainer, and it’s a good result for him too. I thought this morning when I saw the horse was 80/1, well, Khaadem was 80/1, so you never know. But not in your wildest dreams are you expecting to win after finishing last in a five-runner conditions race, but that’s what the good trainers do, they turn the screw.
“The horse felt really good going down; from the minute I got on him, he felt good and had his ears pricked. For the first couple of furlongs, I was getting him settled because they split into groups and I was trying to get cover. But from two out I thought, ‘I’m going to run a good race’, and then actually, ‘I’ve got a good chance of winning now’. It is a different set of emotions as the race progressed, I am just glad that it worked out. I haven’t got much road left in me – I doubt I’ll have another one [at that price]!”
Jerome Reynier said of Lazzat: “Nineteen runners, some horses a bit everywhere, and James was telling us that if there was only one group, maybe he would have won, but he was kind of on his own on the other side of the track and that wasn’t easy to manage his effort. He will have a bit of a break, then prep for the early season next year – if we want to go to Saudi in February, you need to be ready quickly! We shall see, there’s a few options on the international stage, you’ve got Saudi and the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. There’s not much going on in Europe for the first couple of months, so we will see with the connections what’s the best thing to do.”
Lazzat’s jockey James Doyle added: “When Jamie Spencer is on the Straight Course, he can create a bit of magic – and I think you’ve just seen it there! Full credit to Lazzat, he’s gone down on his sword, he didn’t do a lot wrong at all. I was happy throughout, he was very controllable and in a good rhythm today. I was never quite comfortable with what was going on – when you split into two groups like that, the far side were with me, then they go ahead of me, and it’s always difficult to gauge where you’re at. I do feel if we had come in one cluster up the middle, it would have suited my fellow a bit better, but it would have probably not suited the winner.”
Quinault’s rider Sean Levey said: “He has run the best race he has this year. It is always difficult to do it the way he does, in the way his running style is, but he’s got nice patter.”