Punter lands £60,000 bet on maiden King Power winner at Salisbury

A major gamble on Saturday came to fruition for one punter after Leuven Power landed a £60,000 bet at Salisbury.

The stake was the largest gamble of the day, despite a rich offering of action at Newmarket, York and Ascot, with the punter winning £50,000 for his £60,000 stake at odds of 5-6 with Star Sports.

The King Power-owned colt was bidding to break his maiden in the 7f novice stakes after a 302-day layoff and failing to get off the mark three times as a two-year-old.

The race was likely a nail-biting watch for the hopeful punter as Leuven Power – who shortened to a starting price of 4-11 – battled to win by threequarters of a length from Karuoka.

The result will be a significant Saturday blow for Star Sports, with trader Jordan Cox calling the race the "biggest liability" of the day ahead of the evening meeting.

Leuven Power's win enhanced the fine form of trainer Roger Varian, who holds a 31 per cent strike-rate that included a treble on the day after success with Miss Carol Ann at Newmarket and Listed honours with Laneqash at Chester.

It was the fourth winner at the track for Varian from just eight runners, with stablemate Peripatetic finishing third in the fillies' handicap.

The success was the first at Salisbury for jockey Ray Dawson, who is enjoying a stellar week after partnering Mawj to victory in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes on Friday.

Full result and replay

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