Art Power wins Renaissance Stakes for a third time

Art Power showed his love for the Curragh once again to win the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Renaissance Stakes for a third time.

Tim Easterby’s admirable eight-year-old has some fine form figures at the Kildare track, and having won the race in both 2021 and 2022, relished the return to six furlongs to register his 10th career success and first since scooping Group One honours at British Champions Day in 2023.

Sent off 11-2 and immediately to the fore under regular ally David Allan, the grey cut a fine sight blazing his way on the front-end before showing tremendous bravery to hold off Paddy Twomey’s King Cuan by a neck.

Karl Burke’s fellow British raider Spycatcher was a further half-length adrift in third, with Art Power made 16-1 from 40s by Paddy Power for a repeat of his 2023 heroics in the British Champions Sprint Stakes on October 18.

Winning rider Allen said: “It’s taken him a while to get his head back in front, but he has a love affair with the Curragh.

“He ran really well here first time out this year and last time, five furlongs is probably too sharp for him nowadays.

“He gallops out well – soft ground and six (furlongs) he can run them into the ground and take all the speed out of them. He’s as tough as they come even at his age and is a very willing partner.

“To still have that enthusiasm is a credit to him.”