'He's a great horse' - Soumillon salutes super-tough Perfect Power in brave win

Friday: Commonwealth Cup, Royal Ascot

Even Christophe Soumillon could not comprehend the way Perfect Power quickened in the closing stages to power clear in the Commonwealth Cup.

He looked an unlikely winner at halfway after breaking from stall one and an even unlikelier one when several lengths behind with two furlongs to travel, but he rallied under pressure and scored by a length and a quarter.

Often more is learnt in failure than success, and his winning connections were rewarded for their decision to drop Perfect Power back in trip after he finished seventh in the 2,000 Guineas on his first attempt at a mile.

"He's a great horse and has such a big heart because I never thought he would be able to quicken a second time," said Soumillon, shortly after giving a horse he quite clearly adores a well-deserved pat down the neck.

"At the two-furlong marker I saw I was six or seven lengths behind and thought I was probably a bit far back, but in the race before I saw Ryan Moore was going on the same line, so the track was looking good there.

"The track was a bit fast for him and I didn't have a lot of choice but to set him back, but in the last 150 metres he gave me another turn of foot. Last year I thought he was probably one of the best two-year-olds I had ridden and he's done it again. I hope it's just his first Group 1 this year.

"It's special to win here. That's why you have to be humble coming here as it's the toughest place to win. When you are able to ride a great horse for great owners and a great trainer, you have to put it all together."

Perfect Power is no stranger to dining at the top table. He was prolific as a two-year-old, winning the Norfolk Stakes by a head from Go Bears Go at Royal Ascot last year, the Group 1 Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes.

Richard Fahey and Christophe Soumillon in conversation after the Commonwealth Cup success of Perfect PowerCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's not often you're confident going into the royal meeting, but I thought he was a certainty last year," said trainer Richard Fahey. "I felt whoever beat him today had to be special. Christophe loves him and I do too.

"He's definitely a happier horse over this trip. He was a bit further back than I wanted, and when you've got a fancied one you always want to be up there at the front, but Christophe is the man. When you've got great belief in a horse and he doesn't let you down, it's fantastic. He's a dude."

There will be more tough assignments ahead and Perfect Power was cut to 4-1 (from 8-1) for the July Cup, but Fahey, who was emotional after landing his tenth Royal Ascot winner, said it was too soon to commit to a plan.

"We have loads of options," said the trainer. "As well as the July Cup, we can go seven furlongs or we could go for the Prix Maurice de Gheest."

At one stage it looked like a straight fight between Flotus and runner-up Flaming Rib, whose part-owner Michael Owen said: "We're really proud of our fella. We were looking at Flotus and were confident we'd beat her.

"Then we were beaten by a horse he may not have even seen. The winner is good and all credit to him, but we're so proud of our horse. He's beaten all the others and it was just a case of something coming on the far side."

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