racing_news/

Bated Breath Takes Temple Stakes Thriller
26/05/12

1 Bated Breath 2/1F
2 Sole Power 3/1
3 Spirit Quartz 14/1
NR: Medicean Man
12 ran Distances: nk, 3½l, hd
TIME 56.39s (fast by 2.11s)

Bated Breath put up a superb performance to hold last year's winner Sole Power in a thrilling finish to the Betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park in which both broke the track record.

Bated Breath
© Racehorse Photos

Roger Charlton's 2-1 favourite, trying to win over five furlongs for the first time, was always travelling sweetly just off the pace in the hands of George Baker, who was standing in for the suspended James Doyle.

The five-year-old hit the front a furlong out in the Group Two contest and then had to dig in to resist market rival Sole Power, who came flashing through with a late charge but was held by a neck, with another three and a half lengths to Spirit Quartz in third.

Baker said: "I feel a bit sorry for James Doyle as he is banned, but his bad fortune is my good luck. The horse deserved this and hopefully this leads on to better things for him."

Charlton said of his three-times Group One-placed victor: "He showed terrific speed. I feel sorry for Sole Power, but we beat the right horse. He never had cover. If we can find a five-furlong race with real speed and cover, he will be even more impressive.

"He was in front a bit too long really, but George did a great job. I'm just so pleased for the horse, he'd never won a Group race before and deserves this, he's so consistent. He's very good looking and will make a great stallion.

"I'll have to talk to connections, but I would suggest the King's Stand (at Royal Ascot). That would be more sensible than taking on the Aussie mare (Black Caviar, in the Diamond Jubilee).

"I hope Peter Moody (Black Caviar's trainer) is watching and saw we knocked 1.3 seconds off the track record! It's too early to even think about that (running in both King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes)."

Eddie Lynam, trainer of Sole Power, said: "He's run a corker, he's broken the track record and didn't win. We've just run into a very good horse on the day. Paul (Hanagan) was delighted with him and we'll take him on again in the King's Stand."

betfred.com Temple Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 2)
Going: Firm

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Bated Breath R Charlton	G Baker 9st 4lbs	2 - 1 Winner
2	Sole Power E Lynam	P Hanagan 9st 4lbs	3 - 1 Neck
3	Spirit Quartz R M H Cowell	Jim Crowley 9st 4lbs	14 - 1 3 1/2 lengths
4	Borderlescott R Bastiman	R Winston 9st 4lbs	20 - 1 Head
5	Confessional T D Easterby	P Mulrennan 9st 4lbs	28 - 1 1/2 length
6	Elusivity B J Meehan	S W Kelly 9st 4lbs	14 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
7	Tangerine Trees B Smart	T Eaves 9st 8lbs	12 - 1 1/2 length
8	Masamah K A Ryan	J P Spencer 9st 4lbs	7 - 1 1 1/4 length
9	Bapak Chinta K A Ryan	P Makin 8st 10lbs	20 - 1 2 lengths
10	Best Terms R Hannon	K T O'Neill 8st 7lbs	14 - 1 2 lengths
11	Monsieur Joe R M H Cowell	P Cosgrave 9st 4lbs	20 - 1 7 lengths
12	Swiss Dream D R C Elsworth	N Mackay 9st 1lbs	20 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
NonRunner	Medicean Man J Gask	M Demuro 9st 4lbs	-