A powerful leader

Power of George (Jason Taylor) leads to win

It was an impressive win when Power of George won the Bet of a Lifetime QTIS 2YO Handicap 1000m at Eagle Farm on Saturday, April 19 by two and three quarters of a length.

Heading in as $1.90 race favourite after winning 10 days earlier by five and a half lengths at Ipswich, Power of George (G2 Falvelon-Jessepic) began brilliantly jumping from the centre barrier. The gelding wanted to lead and set the pace leading by five lengths in the straight.

Left Standing (Scott Seamer) caught up for second and The Beast (Glen Colless) was third by three quarters of a length.

Gold Coast trainer Helen Page was very impressed with the win. “He’s a very quiet little horse, only small. Obviously very powerful and well named like his Dad. He always begins with enormous speed and he seems to find the lead easily and then he just seems to coast along in the race. After he came around the turn he just put a gap in them, one length, two lengths, three lengths, four lengths. He’s got a good turn of foot,” she said.

“It’s very exciting. He’s untouched at the moment of course because it’s only early days and his third start in a row and he’s just starting to learn what it’s about so that’s how it unfolded on the day.”

It was the plan to get to the front early. “He trialled very well in his barrier trial. He still ran a very fast time and a lot of people were saying it couldn’t be right because it was faster than some of the open heats. I didn’t worry too much about the time, I just liked the way he did it. My apprentice rode him, Shane Stanbridge. He told me enough about him, he told me he showed turn of foot, he felt good and he felt balanced and he did it easily.”

“At Ipswich he broke the class record and was just a fraction outside the course record and that was just hands and heels and it’s the fastest apparently final 600m that a two-year-old in Queensland has ever run and he ran 31.8, he broke 32, his final 600m.

Trainer Helen Page (Noel Pascoe photos)

“We weren’t going out to do that but it’s been very impressive and a good fun ride for the owners. A family own him and they’re getting a big thrill out of this horse. He’s a cuddly little horse that they can all pat too and have a bit of fun with. He’s been really good and he’s got a wonderful temperament,” said Page.

Both of the gelding’s wins from three starts have been on a dead track and with jockey Jason Taylor aboard.

“The good thing was it was a dead track but the jockey seemed to say it was more like a slow track so he can handle it and that was nice to know and that made it even a little bit better because I don’t think he’s one dimensional. I don’t think he’s a horse that just has to lead, he can settle. He settles beautifully. He’s got a good brain on him and he’s nice and relaxed but at the moment we’ve just used his brilliant speed. Because he’s got that speed but I’m sure he could be tucked away and he’d show acceleration because he’s got a good turn of foot.”

“He just lowers himself down and has high cruising speed which he can get there and cruise easily. Whereas a lot of horses off the bit, try and be near him and then he puts a gap in them and broke their hearts a bit because they’ve got to chase. Over the short courses he’s been able to do it. I don’t know what will happen when he gets a bit further but we can only wait and see.”

Power of George is owned by the Dunn family and has earned $67,700 in prizemoney including $25,900 in QTIS bonuses.

“I bought him at the Magic Millions for $20,000. He was correct and neat. He’s out a General Nediym mare and the second dam is by Roy’s Jester so I thought well we’ve got a lot of speed here, and we’ve got Falvelon, good breeds. I just thought well this is chance for them to have a bit of fun with a horse. The family bought Falontime the year before, she’s by Falvelon, not expensive and she’s actually Listed placed so they had a lot of fun with her and that’s when they said to me, see if we can buy another little Falvelon and that’s how I found him and they’re just having a ball with him.”

Taylor went on to ride a treble at Eagle Farm on April 19 including Majestic Sight in the Class 6 Plate and Our Jangles in the last, the BMagazine Class 6 Handicap.

QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – April 21