Nunthorpe Heroine Winter Power Faces Flying Five Test

Winter Power  has been unstoppable at York, but can she do it away from home against the fastest in Ireland and Britain? That is the poser for punters in a fascinating running of the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) Sept. 12 at the Curragh.

The explosive winner of the Aug. 20 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) takes on Glass Slippers , winner of this race 12 months ago on the way to Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) glory at Keeneland. Glass Slippers also took the 2019 Longines Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1) for trainer Kevin Ryan, and certainly knows what it takes to win at the top level.

"It's a stronger running," Ryan's assistant trainer Adam Ryan said of the five-furlong event. "Winter Power was extremely impressive at York, I think the track will suit Dragon Symbol  more and the Irish horses are improving. (Glass Slippers) was last off the bridle in the King George (G2) and it was nine months since her last run so she's entitled to improve for that. She's in great order, a triple group 1 winner, and we know everything suits her over there. She's the horse of a lifetime."

The Flying Five is a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, to be held this year Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Dragon Symbol has been ultra-consistent, and experts sense one of these days everything is going to fall into place and he'll get the group 1 win he deserves. He did, of course, pass the post first in the June 18 Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot, only to be demoted in the stewards' room after he interfered with Campanelle .

"He's been very consistent all year and we've been happy with him at home," trainer Archie Watson said. "This looked the obvious next step for him. I think he's versatile in terms of trip—his five-furlong form looks just as good as what he's done over six—and hopefully this distance at the Curragh will suit him well."

The Irish challenge, looking for only a sixth win in the last decade, is spearheaded by the rapidly improving Mooneista , who looked better than ever when swooping late to land the Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes (G2) over this course and distance in July.

"She's flying and I think she's in even better shape now than she was going into the Sapphire," trainer Jack Davison reported. "She's a proper speedster and is learning what's required of her now. It's obviously a hot race, but it's a group 1 and I'd expect nothing less. There is lots of pace in there so that will suit my filly." 

Karl Burke, trainer of stakes-placed Significantly , will send his runner for a big step up in class.

"He's in great form," Burke said. "It's a big ask, it's one of the strongest runnings I've seen of this race. But he's only a 3-year-old; we'll let him take his chance and I'm sure we've got a good sprinter for next season even if it's not tomorrow."

Also stepping up is stakes winner Measure of Magic , who was third in the Commonwealth Cup.

"She had a great start to the year and she ran her heart out at Ascot," trainer Johnny Murtagh said. "It probably took a little more out of her than I thought it did at the time. She was a bit flat the last day, but she's fresh and well now and working well. She's back over five and I've always had this race in mind for her. A stiff five at the Curragh where they go fast, it's made for her. It's going to be tough but she's going well again."