Time to get Slade Power on your side

On the racetrack, Slade Power carried all before him in 2014, landing both the G1 July Cup and G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes to earn him the title of Europe’s Champion older sprinter. Retiring to Kildangan Stud, he has since covered excellent books of mares and his first yearlings last season were very well received, with a select sale average of €93,000 and a top price of €310,000, twice.

This year sees the next stage in his career with his first runners hitting the track and they are with some of Europe’s finest trainers, making him a leading candidate for Champion first-season sire honours.

Richard Hannon has four in training and he looks to have prime candidate to get him off to a flyer with his son of Cake. A very speedy Acclamation filly, Cake won in the April of her juvenile season before being beaten just over a length in the G2 Queen Mary. She has already produced two Stakes juveniles in Fig Roll and Tomily, both of whom won their first races at the start of May before going to Royal Ascot. Richard Hannon also has the colt out of Summer In February, who MV Magnier paid 200,000gns for at Tattersalls Book 2 last October.

Another trainer renowned for his juveniles is Mark Johnston, and he too has four by Slade Power. The highlight could be the half-brother to the exceptional G2 Coventry Stakes winner Buratino, who ran Shalaa so close in the Middle Park Stakes. His dam Bergamask also produced Cape Bunting (Cape Cross), who won three of her four starts as a two-year-old last season. Other potential stars for him this season include a filly out of European Champion juvenile Embassy and a filly out of the French Stakes performer Key To Peace.

Godolphin signed for Slade Power’s top filly last season at 260,000gns, a daughter of Sleeping Beauty who has entered training with Saeed bin Suroor. She is one of three at Godolphin Stables, alongside two colts out of Many Colours and Snowdrops. Across Newmarket at Moulton Paddocks, Charlie Appleby has taken charge of two daughters of Slade Power including a half-sister to last season’s G2 Lowther Stakes heroine Threading (Exceed And Excel).

Hugo Palmer has three in training gave a glowing report recently, saying “I like them all this stage” before describing the colt out of Heart’s Desire as “Love him….He’s a lovely strong colt. Moves and carries himself well”.

With his other trainers of juveniles including Karl Burke, Mick Channon, Tom Dascombe, Richard Fahey, William Haggas, Charlie Hills, Eddie Lynam, Martyn Meade, Jean-Claude Rouget and Kevin Ryan, the future certainly looks rosy for Slade Power.

Covering this season at a fee of €15,000 Oct 1, Special Live Foal, he is available to view at Kildangan Stud on Friday and Saturday this week on the ITM Stallion Trail.