Deserved first win for New World Power

New World Power, on whom Sheikh Fahad finished second in a charity race at Cheltenham last April, got off the mark at Southwell on Wednesday.

After finishing placed in five of his nine previous starts, New World Power comfortably won the Betway Maiden Stakes over a mile and a half, giving Qatar Racing it's first win of 2018. It was also a first success of the year for Qatar Racing's retained rider Oisin Murphy and trainer David Simcock, who had ended 2017 in fine form, his winners including the Qatar Racing-owned debutante Worship.

The son of Deep Impact appeared to take to the fibresand extremely well, always travelling like the winner and finding plenty for pressure, hitting the line with a length and three quarters to spare over chief market rival Speciality. New World Power, who finished second to the subsequent dual Gr. 1 winner Ulysses on his debut in 2016, had a BHA rating of 81 going into the Southwell race and should remain competitive when sent back into handicaps.

New World Power may also be in line to run in the 2018 renewal of the Champions Willberry Charity Flat Race in late-April, which is for four-year-olds and over rated either up to 125 under National Hunt Rules or 85 on the Flat. It is run over one mile and about five furlongs, and New World Power finished a gallant second to Three Star General in the 2017 running of the race under Sheikh Fahad (pictured).