Bated Breath shows his class

Bated Breath (George Baker in the saddle) holds off the late challenge of last year’s winner, Sole Power (Paul Hanagan), to land the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

After being narrowly denied in two QIPCO British Champions Series sprints last season, Bated Breath made amends this afternoon when winning the first Group race of his career, the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park.

Always travelling well under jockey George Baker, he quickened clear over a furlong out and then had to fend off a late challenge from last year’s winner, Sole Power, who did not have the clearest of runs.

The winning margin was a neck, with three and a half lengths back to the third horse, Spirit Quartz, but whether Sole Power can be deemed unlucky is open to debate.

Certainly he had to wait for room to make his challenge and he was closing fast towards the finish, but Bated Breath had been in front long enough and the acceleration he showed to go clear of his rivals stamped him as the high class sprinter that we knew he was from last year.

Trained by Roger Charlton, next up for the highest rated British-trained sprinter is likely to be the second Series sprint, the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, again over five furlongs, on Tuesday 19 June.

Last year he was twice defeated by Europe’s 2011 champion sprinter, Dream Ahead, going down by half a length in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket and by a nose in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, both over six furlongs.

Bated Breath showed this afternoon that he has plenty enough speed for the minimum trip, however, smashing the course record to win in a time of 56.39 seconds (though Haydock’s highest class five furlong race has only been run at the track since 2008).

The winning trainer said: "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!"