Sole Power and Richard Hughes fly late to win the Nunthorpe
Richard Hughes rode Irish-trained Sole Power to a half-a-length victory in the Gr1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
The 11-4 favourite gave trainer Eddie Lynam and Hughes all four Group One sprints so far this season.
Stepper Point (20-1) was second and Extortonist (14-1) third a short head further back in the third day of the Ebor Festival’s feature race.
This was Sole Power’s second victory in the race – he won as a three-year-old in 2010 as a 100-1 outsider.
Lynam said: “Two weeks ago, he had American ringworm, we had to get him right for it and we had only 10 days to train him.
“He’s a super horse, a horse of a lifetime, it’s just the way he does it. He was about 97 points lighter than he was four years ago!”
Sole Power won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, with stable-mate Slade Power winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at the same meeting and the July Cup at Newmarket.
The Mike De Kock-trained Shea Shea was perfectly placed early on but had nothing to offer late in the race and faded right out to finish downfield.
He appeared not to have any excuses and appears to have lost his enthusiasm for racing. It was subsequently announced that he has been retired.
(www.bbc.co.uk / additional reporting by SP editorial staff)
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