WINNER of the seven-furlong Group 3 Greenham Stakes on his three-year-old debut from Lusail, Perfect Power was far from disgraced when tackling a mile for the only time in his career in the Group 1 2000 Guineas. He finished just over six lengths off the winner, Coroebus.

The Tally-Ho Stud-bred three-year-old then reverted to sprinting and Perfect Power was most impressive when landing the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, showing a scintillating turn of foot to quicken not once, but twice, and come from last to first and win. He had a large and talented field in his wake.

This was a sixth career success for the son of Ardad (Kodiac), half of them being gained at the highest level. At two he won the Middle Park Stakes in Newmarket and the Prix Morny in Deauville, both over six furlongs, adding to a pair of successes over the minimum trip, including the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot from Go Bears Go. He was the joint top-rated juvenile colt in France.

Perfect Power is by some way the best runner to date for his sire.

Ardad was himself a Royal Ascot winner, successful in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes. Later that season he added the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes when he beat the Group 1 winner The Last Lion. At three he failed to add to his record, unlike his son who went on to win at the highest level.

Ardad was also bred by Tally-Ho Stud and sold for £170,000 to Blandford Bloodstock as a yearling. Perfect Power cost the same agency just £110,000, and retires to stud with winnings north of £700,000. Perfect Power is the first foal from the dual winner Sagely, a daughter of Frozen Power (Oasis Dream). She was purchased by the O’Callaghans who sent her to Ardad.

Perfect Power is the standout performer in this branch of a very successful female line that goes back to his fourth dam, Saganeca (Sagace). A Group 2 winner in France, and Group 1-placed in Italy, she sold to John Magnier as a 15-year-old for $2 million.

Abound

Stakes winners abound in this family, as do Group 1 winners.

At the time of her sale, Sananeca was responsible for a pair of Group 1 winners, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix (Linamix) and the Arc-placed Sagacity (Highest Honor). Three of her daughters have also gone on to breed Group 1 winners, and notable among that trio is the great Shastye (Danehill), dam of Japan and Mogul, both sons of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells).

The only horse to win three Group 1 six-furlong races by June of his three-year-old season, Perfect Power is sure to be well supported standing under the Darley banner, and provides breeders with an opportunity to access speed and precocity at a commercial fee.

Combining all this with great conformation, he is sure to not only attract support from breeders in Britain, but from Ireland and France too.

Race record

PERFECT POWER (IRE), Bay 2019. Jt Champion 2yr old colt in France in 2021. Champion 3yr old sprinter in Europe in 2022. Won six races, £714,862, from 5 furlongs to 7 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Commonwealth Cup, Ascot, Gr.1, Middle Park Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, Prix Morny, Deauville, Gr.1, Norfolk Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Greenham Stakes, Newbury, Gr.3.

At stud

Retired to Stud in 2023.

Information

Stands at: Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9HE, England

Contact: Liam O’Rourke, Sam Bullard, Dawn Laidlaw, David Appleton or Jack Bloom

Telephone: +44 1638 730070

Email: hello@darley.co.uk

Web: www.darleystallions.com

Fee: £15,000