ALL POWER TO HIM
   Those who witnessed the lifeless effort of Power (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the G1 2000 Guineas three weeks ago would have given Michael Tabor's colt little chance of providing Aidan O'Brien with an eighth renewal of the G1 Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas yesterday. Yet again, the new maestro of Ballydoyle produced some uncanny magic in the interim period to catapult the J "TDN Rising Star" J forward from his Newmarket flop and onto Classic glory at The Curragh. Settled in sixth early off the punishing pace set by stable companion and eventual fourth Daddy Long Legs (Scat Daddy), the 5-1 shot challenged down the inner under Joseph O'Brien to upstage the 33-1 shot Foxtrot Romeo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the final 100 yards. At the line, last year's G1 National S. winner had a length to spare over that rival, with fellow Ballydoyle runner Reply (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) staying on into third in the latest show of force from the establishment. "He was a very solid horse last year, and we thought the combination of very soft ground and it being his first run of the year were to blame at Newmarket," O'Brien said. "We were delighted with him since and Ryan [Moore] told Joseph to ride him, as he said he had felt great during the first half of the race before getting tired."

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
ABU DHABI IRISH 2000 GUINEAS-G1, €300,000, Curragh, 5-26, 3yo, c/f, 1mT, 1:39.04, gd.
1--POWER (GB), 126, c, 3, by Oasis Dream (GB)
        1st Dam: Frappe (Ire), by Inchinor (GB)
        2nd Dam: Glatisant (GB), by Rainbow Quest
        3rd Dam: Dancing Rocks (GB), by Green Dancer
(50,000gns RNA yrl '10 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Norelands & Hugo Lascelles; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Joseph O'Brien; €174,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, 8-5-2-0, €506,164. *1/2 to Thakafaat (Ire) (Unfuwain), GSW-Eng, $194,772. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Foxtrot Romeo (Ire), 126, c, 3, Danehill Dancer (Ire)--Hawala (Ire), by Warning (GB). (€90,000 yrl '10 GOFSPT). O-Andrew Tinkler; B-Barronstown Stud; T-Bryan Smart; €60,000.
3--Reply (Ire), 126, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)--Cap Coz (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (€500,000 yrl '10 ARQAUG). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Eduard Mordukhovitch; B-Mrs C Regalado-Gonzalez; T-Aidan O'Brien; €30,000.   
Margins: 1, 3/4, NK. Odds: 5-1, 33-1, 25-1.
Also Ran: Daddy Long Legs, Born to Sea (Ire), Hermival (Ire), Wrote (Ire), Alkazim (Ire), Takar (Ire), Trumpet Major (Ire). Scratched: Parish Hall (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, courtesy attheraces.com.
   Admirably consistent at two, Power was winning the Listed Marble Hill S. on this card last year and went on to Royal Ascot to add the G2 Coventry S. to his tally the next month. He was second as the 7-4 favorite when returning from a break in the G1 Phoenix S. here in August, but Aidan O'Brien blamed himself for leaving him short on that occasion, and with the pressure applied at home in the meantime returned to put matters right in the G1 National S. in September. Denied only by this race's most notable absentee Parish Hall (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket the following month, he had attracted support for the 2000 Guineas but that proved wide of the mark as he faded to beat only one rival. Despite that negative hanging over him, it was only 12 months ago that Roderic O'Connor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had rebounded from an unplaced effort at Newmarket to win this race, and jockey bookings and market strength suggested that all the faith remained. Keen early anchored against the fence in sixth as the stable's G2 UAE Derby first and third Daddy Long Legs and Wrote (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) set off in isolation, Power tracked the British raider Foxtrot Romeo through as the two leaders started to send out distress signals with a quarter mile to race. Making ground up the rail, he was forced to angle around the tiring Wrote and as Daddy Long Legs veered left from the furlong marker was able to dash back to the rail. In front with 100 yards remaining, he surged away from the surprise package Foxtrot Romeo despite flashing his tail to lead home a one-three-four for the stable. "He traveled and quickened well off a solid pace today, and Ryan [Moore] felt he was a little bit unlucky in the Dewhurst last year--if he had gone a bit farther he would have got there--so he gets a mile well," said O'Brien. "Daddy Long Legs is a different horse on the grass and wouldn't mind stepping up to a mile and a quarter. I think Power is a horse for the G1 St James's Palace S. [at Royal Ascot June 19], but it will be discussed and they all have lots of options open to them." In a remarkable turn of events for Highclere Stud, John Magnier revealed that Power had been raised alongside the leading Derby contenders Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) at the Berkshire-based operation. Highclere had consigned him and that duo at the 2010 renewal of the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale, during which Power was bought back at 50,000 guineas before being sold privately.