Ascot Saturday

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)

THE recent failures of Derby winners to confirm Epsom form against older horses has been a concern for the prestige of the Epsom classic, but by becoming the first Derby winner to go on to King George glory since Galileo 20 years before, Adayar (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) did his bit to restore some lustre to what has long been known as the blue riband of The Turf.

Sent off second favourite at 9/4, he was lit up in the early strides, but settled better when Broome – who missed the kick as the stalls opened – took up the running after a couple of furlongs, and from there the race went smoothly.

Taking over from Broome as that one began to flag, he looked to face a stern challenge when Mishriff (John and Thady Gosden/David Egan) loomed up wider on the track, but he responded willingly to pressure, and pulled away to record a one-and-three-quarter-length success.

The favourite, Love (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore), was the same distance behind in third having looked, rather surprisingly, less than comfortable on the firm ground.

Fast surface

Adayar impressed in every department here, and added another facet to his game by showing himself completely at home on a fast surface, although the terrain was no concern to connections, as the winning jockey remarked.

“Charlie wasn’t worried and good horses can adapt and that’s exactly what this horse did. It was a very simple race to ride once Adayar dropped his head and when I picked him up he was instant and relentless until the line.”

St Leger

Appleby is now in the enviable position of training the best two middle-distance colts in Europe, and while both look better at a mile and a half than shorter, he will have to get creative to keep the pair apart.

Adayar and Hurricane Lane dominate the market for the St Leger, and are shaded only by Snowfall in the betting for the Arc.

The latter holds the greater prestige, but Godolphin has been a big supporter of the final classic over the years, so it will be a surprise if one of these outstanding performers doesn’t line up at Doncaster in September, giving a big boost to the reputation of two classics.