'One off the bucket list' - Happy Power delivers poignant success for owners

Saturday: Leicester

The King Richard III Stakes had been a target for the late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, owner of King Power, and that ambition has now been achieved by his son Aiyawatt with Happy Power.

The Andrew Balding-trained six-year-old stalked the Godolphin-owned favourite Path Of Thunder before taking the lead two furlongs out and going on to score by two and a quarter lengths under David Probert.

Balding said: “The happiest thing about it is that when the chairman decided to get involved in horse racing, to win this race was one of his objectives, obviously with the Leicester connection.

Leicester City Chairman and King Power founder Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in 2018Credit: Getty Images

“I’m thrilled to have done it. We’ve had a couple of tries before. He’s a star and as good as ever. This was one of the parts of the plan. We’ve still got plenty more to try to achieve to complete the picture – this was just one off the bucket list."

King Richard III Stakes: full result and replay

The Kingsclere trainer has already mapped out the route to the big meetings for Happy Power.

“Ascot is important to King Power and we’ll go there for the Diamond Jubilee again," said Balding, who is also eyeing another crack at the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. "He’s a seven-furlong specialist and there aren’t that many opportunities.”

There was another winner for King Power in the closing 7f handicap when the Roger Varian-trained Kitsune Power scored by a length under Ray Dawson.

Derby dreaming

Derby entrant Magisterial, trained by John and Thady Gosden, kept the Epsom dream alive with victory in the 1m2f novice stakes. He stuck it out well from the front under Frankie Dettori to win by a length and a half from Ruling Dynasty, an odds-on newcomer from Charlie Appleby’s yard who also has a Derby entry.

Results, replays and analysis

More of Saturday's big-race action:

Celebration Chase: Cobden and Nicholls on fire as Greaneteen completes terrific treble

Bet365 Gold Cup: No stopping Shark! Irish raider Hewick routs bet365 Gold Cup for Hanlon

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