Powerful Glory, a 200-1 outsider, produced one of the biggest shocks in British racing history by winning the Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday, breaking the record for the longest-priced victory in a British Group One race. The previous record, set by Qirat at 150-1 in the Sussex Stakes in August, lasted only two months.
Ridden by Jamie Spencer, Powerful Glory came from behind to beat the 2-1 favourite Lazzat by a neck. The crowd fell silent as punters checked their racecards, searching for any form that might have hinted at the success. The colt had finished last in a five-runner conditions race at Beverley in September and eighth of nine on his three-year-old debut.
Trainer Richard Fahey insisted the win was no fluke, saying: “This has been the plan all year, genuinely. He had excuses for his two starts this year and we’ve seen the real Powerful Glory today.” Spencer added: “Not in your wildest dreams are you expecting to win after finishing last in a five-runner conditions race.”
The day also saw a 100-1 success for Cicero’s Gift in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, trained by Charlie Hills, who lost his father Barry in June. “I am speechless,” Hills said. “The old man would be looking down and would be so chuffed.”
In the Champion Stakes, Calandagan became only the second horse after Brigadier Gerard (1972) to win both the King George and Champion Stakes in the same season. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the 15-8 second-favourite defeated Ombudsman, the 13-8 favourite. Graffard said: “He’s a fantastic horse, his work coming into this race was incredible and he loves this track.”
