Trainer Edward Lynam is hopeful that Sole Power can go one better in the 2014 Hong Kong Sprint after he finished second behind talented Japanese sprinter Lord Kanaloa in the Group 1 event at Sha Tin last year.

Sole Power finished second behind Lord Kanaloa (pictured) in the 2013 edition of the Hong Kong Sprint. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Sole Power started his 2014 racing season with two credible performances at Meydan before he returned to winning form into the Group 3 House Stakes (1005m) at Newmarket on May 3 before he recorded his second straight win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1005m).

The Kyllachy gelding made it three straight wins when he took out the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (1005m) at York on August 22, but had his winning streak ended in the Group 1 Sprint Cup (1207m) at Haydock Park on September 6 and he failed to perform at his best in the Group 1 Prix De L’Abbaye De Longchamp (1000m).

Lynam admits that Sole Power has already had a tough season, but he told Racing Ahead that he is happy with the condition of the seven-year-old ahead of the 2014 Hong Kong Sprint and was delighted to draw barrier five for the Group 1 event.

“He is a hold-up horse, but even allowing for that you wouldn’t really like a high gate,” Lynam said.

“A quick glance at the field tells me the pace is in six, seven and eight and possibly Spalato out wide.

“I am happy with the draw and I will have to come up with a different excuse for the weekend.

“He lost a little bit more weight travelling over here then I would have liked and he is coming back to himself.

“He has had a long hard season, but we hope there is one more race in him before we put him away for the season.

“We are hopeful.”

Sole Power will turn eight at the end of the year and his stablemate Slade Power has already been retired to stand at stud, but Lynam said there are no plans to end the racing career of the four-year-old after he runs in the Hong Kong Sprint.

Lynam said that he plans to bring Sole Power back to Dubai for another tilt at the Al Quoz Sprint, while he revealed that he would love to win a third King’s Stand Stakes with the talented sprinter.

“He will definitely race on next year and he will race on as long as he enjoys it,” Lynam said.

“The plan after this is to give him a bit of a break and then bring him back to Dubai in March and if there is one race to win it would be to win a third King’s Stand.

“No horse has ever done that, so we would love to try and do that.”

Sole Power is currently available at 2014 Hong Kong Sprint odds of $8, while Aerovelocity ($5) remains favourite from Lucky Nine ($6.50).