Royal Ascot: Perfect Power pounces in Commonwealth Cup

Perfect Power finished with a flourish to claim top honours in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

A dual Group One winner over six furlongs last term, Richard Fahey's stable star won the Greenham over seven on his reappearance, which prompted connections to have a crack at the 2000 Guineas.

Having seemingly had his stamina limitations exposed on the Rowley Mile, the Ardad colt reverted to six furlongs in Berkshire and galloped home on the far side of the track under a power-packed ride from Christophe Soumillon to oblige as a 7-2 joint-favourite.

Flaming Rib and Flotus finished second and third respectively.

Electrifying from PERFECT POWER to take The Commonwealth Cup! pic.twitter.com/pKWCTzHj63

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."

Soumillon said: "It’s great. I think the track was a bit fast for him and, with that draw, I didn’t have any chance but to sit back. When I looked around at the two-furlong marker, I saw I had seven lengths to make up. I thought that was a bit far, but in the race before I saw Ryan Moore took the same line and the track was looking good there.