SOLE IN POWER

Ireland's Sole Power, an 8/1 chance, vanquished raiders from further afield, the 11/4 favourite Shea Shea from South Africa whom he caught close home and beat a neck, while Australia's Shamexpress (12/1) finished ninth, four and a quarter lengths adrift of the winner.

Johnny Murtagh came with a late run which was timed to perfection on Sole Power who is trained by Edward Lynam who commented: "I am very proud of Sole Power.

"If he could beat Shea Shea, he was going to win but I didn't think he could beat Shea Shea.

"Johnny Murtagh is the best trainer riding!"

Paddy Power, whose mother Sabena owns Sole Power, commented: "It's amazing and a very special day. What a ride Johnny Murtagh gave him, to win his side by as far as he did. I have to say that we did kind of fancy Sole Power but it's so special to have it actually happen.

"It's so special for Mum especially, Dad as well and the Lynams, who did such a great job getting him here in great nick. I can't tell you how good it is - it's amazing, so it is!"

Johnny Murtagh, who started combiniing training and riding earlier this year, added: "40 winners at Royal Ascot - I am really proud of it. It's brilliant meeting and, as a jockey, this is where you want to be performing - it makes the Monday to Fridays a lot easier, when you can come to a meeting like this and ride great horses for good people. I have just been one of the lucky ones.

"I get on well with this horse and I know what he likes. Eddie told me to ride him like I normally ride him - "ride him like you own him!" he said. Sole Power has a great turn of foot but he is very willing and, if he gets going too early, he runs out of steam so you have to time it to the best.

"Sole Power has had a lot of seconds but he deserved this victory - it was a top-class field. He is more relaxed than he has been before - he gives me the impression he is really enjoying his racing.

"Eddie knows how to get Sole Power spot on for these big days. There was always an excuse with his seconds last year. He has run a lot of good races but when you are a 100/1 winner of Group One you are kind of put in a pigeon hole but he showed what he can do today.

"He is not big but his heart is in the right place. He has good acceleration. These days are hard to come by as a jockey and I suppose even harder as a trainer.

"I am still enjoying what I am doing. Hopefully, I can continue on the big days - some people think you have lost the kind of edge but hopefully today showed them that I am as hungry as ever.

"I didn't see the other horse until late but I thought I hit the line well and was confident I was going to get there. I had to look over to the big screen to see I had it under control.

"I am a lot busier than I used to be with the training and the riding. I am enjoying both and they are keeping me busy and mentally sharp. I want to be riding on the big days at the Royal Ascots and big days around the world. That is what I have done throughout my career and I hope I can continue for another while.

"Eddie has stuck by me - others think I might not be at my best - but I believe I am as good as I ever was as a jockey."

Danny O'Brien, trainer of Shamexpress, said: "He was only average today. He has not been beaten out of sight - three or four lengths. He was probably a bit soft in the last 100 (metres).

"He chased Shea Shea but was just average in the last furlong. We will probably stay - we are here now and the horse seems in good order- and try him over six furlongs in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket

NO DISGRACE IN DEFEAT FOR SHEA SHEA AND PEARL

Sole Power's late blitz landed the King's Stand Stakes, but the teams behind runner-up Shea Shea and Pearl Secret had no reason to feel crestfallen.

South African challenger Shea Shea, the 11/4 favourite, was saddled by trainer Mike De Kock who felt his horse would have been helped had he been given company in the closing stages of the race - he and the winner finished on opposite sides of the track, and jockey Christophe Soumillon said: "I was on the wrong side behind the wrong horses."

           

De Kock said: "After all he's been through, there's no disgrace in being beaten. It's disappointing to be beaten, but our horse has acquitted himself well and I'm very proud of him and the team that prepared him.

"We all like to win, but we didn't and that's that."

Shea Shea is entered in Saturday's Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes, and De Kock did not rule out a challenge, saying: "We'll see how he pulls out in the morning and may take our place on Saturday, but the door's still open. Christophe said he didn't have a hard race - he hit the front and was idling, that's why I say it would have been great to have a horse take him on in front."

David Barron trains Pearl Secret for Qatar Racing, although the horse had not run since last year's Nunthorpe Stakes. Barron said: "To say I'm quite happy with him is an understatement. He's a horse who needs decent ground with a bit of give and doesn't want rattling ground. The two races we could have gone for before this race at Sandown and Haydock were not suitable because of the ground. He doesn't need soft ground, just a bit of ease.

"He looked good last year [when winning four races], but he wasn't taking on the class of horses he was taking on here. To have run as well as he has is very pleasing, and he's done well physically, so I hope he keeps going that way. He'll be unlucky not to win one of these.

"He's entered in the Golden Jubilee, but personally I wouldn't be in favour - he's just had his first run of the season and he didn't have an easy race. The decision will be left to Sheikh Fahad. The horse is in all the Group One sprints over five and six furlongs."

3.05pm King's Stand Stakes (British Champions Series & Global Sprint Challenge) (Group 1)

£350,000 total prize fund. For 3yo+, 5f. Weights: 3yo colts and geldings 8st 12lb; fillies 8st 9lb; 4yo+ colts and geldings 9st 4lb; fillies 9st 1lb. Penalty value 1st £198,485.00 2nd £75,250.00 3rd £37,660.00 4th £18,760.00 5th £9,415.00 6th £4,725.00.

1) SOLE POWER (Sabena Power) Edward Lynam IRE 6-9-04 Johnny Murtagh [14] 8/1

2) SHEA SHEA (SAF) (Mssrs Brian Joffee & Myron Berzack) Mike De Kock SAF 6-9-04 Christophe Soumillon [5] 11/4 Fav

3) PEARL SECRET (Qatar Racing Limited) David Barron 4-9-04 Jamie Spencer [10] 10/1

4) JACK DEXTER (Johnnie Delta Racing) Jim Goldie 4-9-04 Graham Lee [6]

5) RECKLESS ABANDON (Julie Deadman & Stephen Barrow) Clive Cox 3-8-12 Adam Kirby [13]

6) HEERAAT (IRE) (Hamdan Al Maktoum) William Haggas 4-9-04 Paul Hanagan [15]

7) MOVE IN TIME (A Turton, J Blackburn, R Bond) David O'Meara 5-9-04 Daniel Tudhope [4]

8) SWISS SPIRIT (Lordship Stud) John Gosden 4-9-04 William Buick [17]

9) SHAMEXPRESS (NZ) (J Dimery, A Smith et al) Danny O'Brien AUS t4-9-04 Craig Newitt [3]

10) BUNGLE INTHEJUNGLE (Christopher Wright & Emily Asprey) Mick Channon 3-8-12 Martin Harley [8]

11) MEDICEAN MAN (Stuart Dobb & Kate Dobb) Jeremy Gask p7-9-04 Steve Drowne [9]

12) STEPPER POINT (Clive Edginton) William Muir 4-9-04 Martin Dwyer [11]

13) HOYAM (Ahmad Abdulla Al Shaikh) Michael Bell 3-8-09 Harry Bentley [16]

14) DOC HAY (USA) (S Laffan) David O'Meara 6-9-04 Kieren Fallon [18]

15) PROHIBIT (Dasmal, Rix, Barr, Morley, Mrs Penney) Robert Cowell p8-9-04 Jim Crowley [2]

16) KINGSGATE NATIVE (IRE) (Cheveley Park Stud) Robert Cowell 8-9-4 Shane Kelly [7]

17) ANGELS WILL FALL (IRE) (Mrs E O'Leary) Charlie Hills 4-9-01 James McDonald [1]

18) SPIRIT QUARTZ (IRE) (Qatar Racing Limited) Robert Cowell p5-9-04 Joseph O'Brien [19]

19) BALLESTEROS (Poilin Good) Brian Meehan h4-9-04 Tom Queally [12]

19 ran

Time: 58.88s                

Distances: nk, 1¼, nk, ½, 1, nk, ¾, hd, nk, nk, ¾, hd, ½, ½, sh, 1½, sh, 6

Breeder: G Russell       

Breeding: Kyllachy  - Demerger (USA) (Distant View (USA))

Tote      Win £10.30        Place £3.20 £1.30 £3.30             Exacta £36.70

Winning trainer: Lynam, Edward Born:  April 14, 1962 Based: Summerseat Stables, Clonee, Co Meath  Background: took out a licence to train in February, 1984, having previously split his time running a building firm and learning how to train racehorses under the watchful eye of Jim Bolger. Big Race Wins: DFS Park Stakes (2008 Duff); EBF Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes (2006 Free Roses); Ladbrokes.com International Stakes (2004 Red Feather), Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes (2009 Duff), betfred.com Temple Stakes (2011 Sole Power) First Group One Winner: Sole Power, Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, York, August 20, 2010 Royal Ascot Wins (1): King's Stand Stakes (2013 Sole Power) Wins In Britain (2007-2012): 1; 2; 1; 1; 1; 1 Wins in Britain This Year: 2

Winning jockey:-Name: Murtagh, John Patrick Born: May 14, 1970 Background: Attended the Apprentice Jockeys School at Kildare while serving as an apprentice for John Oxx, with whom he stayed with until 2004. Apprentice champion in 1989, winning the senior version in 1995 and 1998, despite lingering weight problems. Used regularly by Sir Michael Stoute in 2000 when Kieren Fallon was injured, and won 12 Group One contests in that season alone. Spent some of 2006 riding over hurdles, but returned to flat racing later that year, and spent 2007 as Ballydoyle's main jockey in Britain, following the suspension of Kieren Fallon on suspicion of race-fixing, before being given the job full-time because of Fallon's 18 month ban for failing a drugs test. Split from Ballydoyle in November, 2010, to become retained jockey for the Aga Khan in Ireland. First Winner: Chicago Style, Limerick, July 6, 1987 British Classic Wins (5): Investec Derby (2000 Sinndar, 2002 High Chaparral, 2005 Motivator), 2000 Guineas (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2008 Henrythenavigator) Irish Classic Wins (13): Irish 1,000 Guineas (2009 Again), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2001 Black Minnaloushe, 2008 Henrythenavigator, 2009 Mastercraftsman), Irish Derby (2000 Sinndar, 2003 Alamshar, 2009 Fame And Glory, 2010 Cape Blanco), Irish Oaks (1997 Ebadiyla, 1998 Winona, 2000 Petrushka, 2007 Peeping Fawn, 2008 Moonstone) Other Major Wins: Irish Champion Stakes (1996 Timarida), Matron Stakes (1995 Timarida, 2004 Soviet Song, 2010 Lillie Langtry), Moyglare Stud Stakes (1998 Edabiya), National Stakes (1993 Manntari, 1999 Sinndar, 2008 Mastercraftsman), Phoenix Stakes (2008 Mastercraftsman, 2009 Alfred Nobel, 2010 Zoffany), Pretty Polly Stakes (1993 Takarouna), Tattersalls Gold Cup (2007 Notnowcato, 2008 Duke Of Marmalade, 2010 Fame And Glory), Champion Stakes (2000 Kalanisi), Coronation Cup (2008 Soldier Of Fortune, 2010 Fame And Glory), Coral-Eclipse (2008 Mount Nelson), Falmouth Stakes (2004 & 2005 Soviet Song, 2007 Simply Perfect), Fillies' Mile (2007 Listen), Juddmonte International (2008 Duke Of Marmalade, 2010 Rip Van Winkle), July Cup (2004 Frizzante, 2010 Starspangledbanner), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2003 Alamshar, 2007 Dylan Thomas, 2008 Duke Of Marmalade), Middle Park Stakes (2008 Bushranger), Nassau Stakes (2007 Peeping Fawn, 2008 Halfway To Heaven), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2009 Rip Van Winkle), Racing Post Trophy (2000 Dilshaan, 2009 St Nicholas Abbey), Sussex Stakes (2004 Soviet Song, 2008 Henrythenavigator, 2009 Rip Van Winkle), Yorkshire Oaks (1996 Key Change, 2000 Petrushka, 2007 Peeping Fawn), Criterium de Saint-Cloud (2008 Fame And Glory), Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (2000 Namid, 2009 Total Gallery), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2000 Sinndar), Prix du Cadran (2002 Give Notice), Prix Ganay (2008 Duke Of Marmalade), Prix Morny (2008 Bushranger), Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Prix de l'Opera (1995 Timarida, 2000 Petrushka), Prix Royal-Oak (2008 Yeats), Prix Vermeille (2007 Mrs Lindsay), Total Prix Marcel Boussac (2010 Misty For Me), Breeders' Cup Mile (1995 Ridgewood Pearl), Breeders' Cup Turf (2000 Kalanisi), Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (1996 Timarida, 2000 Greek Dance), Hong Kong Vase (2000 Daliapour), E P Taylor (2001 Choc Ice, 2007 Mrs Lindsay), Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes (2011 Lightening Pearl, 2012 Rosdhu Queen),QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (2011 Deacon Blues), QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2011 Dancing Rain) Royal Ascot Wins (40): Coronation Stakes (1995 Ridgewood Pearl, 2010 Lillie Langtry); Gold Cup (1999 Enzeli, 2001 Royal Rebel, 2002, Royal Rebel, 2008 & 2009 Yeats), St James's Palace Stakes (2001 Black Minnaloushe, 2008 Henrythenavigator, 2009 Mastercraftsman), Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (2000, Katiykha), Ascot Handicap Stakes (2000 Barba Papa), Golden Jubilee (2000 Superior Premium, 2003 Choisir, 2007 Soldier's Tale, 2010 Starspangledbanner), King George V Handicap (2001 Beekeeper), Ribblesdale Stakes (2001 Sahara Slew), Wokingham Handicap (2001 Nice One Clare, 2010 Laddies Poker Two, 2011 Deacon Blues), Queen Anne Stakes (2002 No Excuse Needed, 2008 Haradasun), King Edward VII Stakes (2002 Balakheri, 2012 Thomas Chippendale), Windsor Castle Stakes (2002 Revenue, 2011 Frederick Engels), King's Stand Stakes (2003 Choisir, 2013 Sole Power), Hampton Court Stakes (2003 Persian Majesty), Jersey Stakes (2005 Proclamation), Queen Alexandra Stakes (2005 Cruzspiel, 2008 Honolulu), Queen Mary Stakes (2007 Elletelle), Britannia Handicap (2007 Eddie Jock), Prince Of Wales's Stakes (2008 Duke Of Marmalade), Hardwicke Stakes (2008 Macarthur), Windsor Forest Stakes (2009 Spacious), Queen's Vase (2010 Mikhael Glinka) Leading Rider at Royal Ascot: 2001 (5 wins); 2002 (4 wins), 2008 (6 wins)) Wins in Britain 1999-2012: 9; 17; 10; 15; 12; 77; 48; 0; 21; 28; 15; 13; 11; 12 Wins in Britain in 2013: 2