Sole Power 2nd on big day for Abdulla

2-1 favourite Bated Breath won the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock under a fine ride from super-sub George Baker.

Roger Charlton's charge followed the early pace and went to the front over a furlong out, in what proved to be a crucial move.

He was followed through by Sole Power (3-1) who closed him down all the way to the line but the winner held a neck advantage at the post.

It was fully three-and-a-half lengths back to Spirit Quartz (14-1) in third with Bated Breath smashing the track record in the process.

Baker said: "I feel a bit sorry for James Doyle as he is banned, but his bad fortune is my good luck. The horse deserved this and hopefully this leads on to better things for him."

Charlton said of his three-times Group One-placed victor: "He showed terrific speed, I feel sorry for Sole Power but we beat the right horse.

"He never had cover, if we can find a five-furlong race with real speed and cover he will be even more impressive.

"He was in front a bit too long really, but George did a great job. I'm just so pleased for the horse, he'd never won a Group race before and deserves this, he's so consistent. He's very good looking and will make a great stallion.

"I'll have to talk to connections but I would suggest the King's Stand (at Royal Ascot). That would be more sensible than taking on the Aussie mare (Black Caviar, in the Diamond Jubilee).

"I hope Peter Moody (Black Caviar's trainer) is watching and saw we knocked 1.3 seconds off the track record! It's too early to even think about that (running in both King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes)."

Eddie Lynam, trainer of Sole Power, said: "He's run a corker, he's broken the track record and didn't win. We've just run into a very good horse on the day. Paul was delighted with him and we'll take him on again in the King's Stand."

Meanwhile Sea Moon survived two major scares to win the Southern Daily Echo Tapster Stakes at Goodwood under a strong Ryan Moore drive.

The 2-7 favourite was forced to make his own running and Cill Rialaig was the first to challenge, and briefly headed the market leader two out, before being fended off.

However Dandino (4-1) emerged as an even bigger threat down the outside of the field and he forced the market leader to pull out all the stops before going down by a head.