WILLIAM Muir’s faith in Pyledriver has never wavered and on Saturday his five-year-old repaid the belief with victory in Ascot’s summer centrepiece, the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

In the context of the day the time figure was strong although, with the only other race on the round track proving to be slowly run, my judgement would be this was not a vintage renewal, a verdict which is confirmed by the time a full 2.95secs slower than achieved by Adayar last year on ground described as good to firm, similar to Saturday.

In fact, the only race times which were slower than Saturday in the last 10 years were all run on ground described as good to soft or soft, suggesting the race was an extreme test of stamina despite the perfect summer racing surface.

It would be easy to say the better fancied horses underperformed. However, detracting from the performances of Pyledriver (120) and to a lesser extent Torquator Tasso (117) would not be justified; it was more about them being equal to the circumstances of the race and the market principals not being effective.

As confirmed by William Muir after the race, the plan was for PJ McDonald to go forward on Pyledriver, which started the problems for Colin Keane aboard Westover as, despite the best efforts of the Irish jockey, the Juddmonte-owned colt refused to settle and won the battle of man versus horse.

It always looked like the plan for Ryan Moore to lead on Broome so the battle with Westover was drawn and the early sectionals were akin to a five-furlong sprint and not a contest over a mile and a half.

Westover reeled off successive furlongs of 10.87secs, 11.17secs, 11.60secs alongside Broome (10.83secs, 11.14secs, 11.84secs) as they led the field to the mile marker. Pyledriver remained close in third and covered the same ground in 10.95secs, 11.37secs and 11.75secs.

The early exertions were always going to leave the entire field with very little to offer at the death and so it proved as they all finished punch drunk with even the winner weaving off a true line in the closing stages.

Concluding

The concluding sectionals confirmed the pace collapse as Pyledriver posted a closing three-furlong sectional of 38.55secs, compared to Jumbly (98) who covered the same ground in 36.37secs in winning the Valiant Stakes. The most compelling section of the comparison was the final furlong as there was a full second between the pair through the final 220 yards.

William Muir has a plan mapped to the Breeders’ Cup for his two-time Group 1 winner with a date in Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe also in mind which will see another clash with Torquator Tasso.

It would only be very soft or heavy ground which would see my support for Pyledriver waver in a rematch as he is effective on all surfaces away from the extreme.

The son of Harbour Watch will head to ParisLongchamp without questions over his fitness, which cannot be said for Desert Crown who remains on the sidelines.

Mishriff (109) loomed up turning for home as if he was going to mount a serious challenge, before again finding the mile-and-a-half trip stretching his stamina.

The son of Make Believe was on the backfoot from an early stage after missing the break by at least four to five lengths, a trait he displayed at Sandown previously. In playing catch up, he posted the fastest furlong of the race of 10.66secs on the way to the 10-furlong marker.

I would still judge the five-year-old on his Eclipse run over two furlongs shorter, which is quite obviously his best trip and I would expect an improved showing if he reappeared at York to defend his Juddmonte International Stakes crown, albeit it may require a career best to beat Baaeed.

Broome (107) was below the time-figures he achieved in the race last year or when winning the Hardwicke at the royal meeting. The son of Australia will continue his quest for a second Group 1 win and probably heads off on his travels which may lead back to Japan.

Naval Power noted for National Stakes

LEZOO (98) was a smooth winner of the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes in a fair, if not spectacular, time-figure, while Naval Power, who was slower overall when adjusted for distance, finished in the manner of a horse which is destined for a higher grade.

Ralph Beckett’s filly overcame a slow start with Frankie Dettori never administering any great pressure from the saddle to post a closing sectional of 36.33secs. However, a final furlong of 13.14secs after a previous furlong of 11.99secs left the impression the Zoustar filly would have been vulnerable to a rival who closed with more purpose than Kinta (96).

The 7/1 on offer for Lowther Stakes at York makes no appeal on this performance.

More impressive

Naval Power (96+) was more impressive through the final furlong than at any stage in the race with the clock supporting the visual impression as he covered the ground in 12.43secs as part of his three-furlong sectional of 36.50secs.

The context to the final furlong is provided by a comparison with high-profile handicap winners Fresh, Tempus and Call Me Ginger who clocked 12.40secs, 12.27secs and 12.45secs respectively.

The son of Teofilo holds an entry in the National Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend. Godolphin and Charlie Appleby have won the Group 1 contest three times in the last four renewals, including with Native Trail last year.

Call Me Ginger (100+) produced the best handicap performance when adjusted for distance when coming from last to first to provide Amie Waugh with a red-letter day and just her third winner of the season. Jim Goldie’s six-year-old also posted the fastest closing sectional covering the final three furlongs in 34.87secs.

The son of Orientor has only raced over the minimum trip on six occasions so remains unexposed at the distance and is worth a tracker entry with a trip to Ayr a likely destination later in the campaign.

Customary

In his customary style, runner-up King Of Stars (98) set a blistering early pace and held all except the winner comfortably. Mick Appleby’s gelding looks primed to strike when granted a less demanding finish on a straight track.

The International Handicap was slowly run in the early stages, circumstances which played to the strengths of Fresh (99+) who is effective over shorter, having proved best of those drawn low in the Wokingham at the royal meeting.

Danny Tudhope used proven Ascot performer Dark Shift (99+) as his target, edging past Charlie Hills’s colt in the final furlong on his way to a three-furlong sectional of 35.43secs, although the winning jockey may not have seen Bless Him (99+) closing fast as the line loomed.

David Simcock’s eight-year-old, already disadvantaged by the draw, compounded his problems as he stumbled leaving the stalls. In challenging half the field away from his draw, the Sea The Stars gelding finished off faster than the winner, posting 35.29secs for his final three furlongs.

Tempus (95+) won a slowly run Porsche Handicap in the hands of Hollie Doyle, pouncing on the front-running Dubai Mirage before powering clear to clock a smart closing sectional of 35.22secs.

Archie Watson’s gelding is equally effective in big field handicaps over a straight mile and small fields which may help him bridge the gap to listed and possibly pattern company.