POWERFUL GLORY pulled off the biggest Group 1 upset of all time when winning the Champions Sprint at an incredible 200-1.
The Richard Fahey-trained three-year-old ran down the favourite Lazzat in the final strides to leave the huge Ascot crowd in stunned silence.
Shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat sprung an enormous 150-1 shock at Goodwood earlier in the year – but Powerful Glory’s win was on another level.
Jamie Spencer timed his run to absolute perfection on the no-hoper – who finished last of five in a minor race at Beverley last time out.
Punters let out a roar when Lazzat hit the front just over a furlong out, but you could hear a pin drop as Powerful Glory got up close home in the £500,000 dash.
A stunned Spencer said: “I’m lost for words. He’s a good horse and we obviously travelled nicely. I thought I was going to be placed and then all of a sudden, I thought ‘I’ve got a chance’’.
“He jinked a little bit left and I’ve put my whip away and we’ve held on. I’m just shocked really. He was a good two-year-old and lost his way. It’s disbelief really.
“This morning he was 80-1 and I thought Khaadem was 80-1 when I won on him at Royal Ascot so we were not without a chance.
“You never know in this game, it’s a fantastic sport. It’s been good to me and days like this make it all worthwhile.”
More to follow…
