Derby winner Adayar emulates the great Galileo with victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes at Ascot Racecourse for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin team
Charlie Appleby’s Newmarket-based Adayar delivered another dominant display at Ascot to become the first Derby winner to follow up with victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes in 20 years.
Having travelled powerfully in the early stages of Saturday’s race under under William Buick, Adayar swept past long-time leader Broome as they turned for home and surged a length and three-quarters clear of John and Thady Gosden’s Mishriff. Aidan O’Brien’s favourite Love ended back in third.
It delivered a first win in the race for trainer Appleby and a fifth success for owners Godolphin, with Adayar following in the steps of Swain, Daylami and Doyen.
The son of Frankel became the first Epsom Derby winner since Galileo in 2001 to follow up in the King George and has now confirmed himself as one of the best middle-distance horses in training.
Jockey Buick admitted to being speechless after and said: “He just gives you the feeling of endless power.”
Adayar’s victory completed a double for Appleby after he had won the opening Pat Eddery Stakes with New Science, also ridden by Buick. And it was a treble on the day for the jockey as he won the Moet & Chandon International Stakes on Danyah.
But Appleby had to watch on from home in Newmarket, having been pinged by the Covid-19 NHS app.
“It’s been 20 years since the great Galileo did the double, and the horse deserves all the plaudits he is getting,” Appleby told the media.
“Coming into today we were confident he was in great form. The ground wasn’t a concern because he’d won on good to firm. I wouldn’t have used the ground as an excuse if he’d lost.
“It was a fantastic ride by William (Buick), who did all the right things, and it was a good race. When the bell went coming into Swinley Bottom he put himself in the firing line and galloped all the way to the line.”
He added of his absence: “Thankfully I saw the horse on Wednesday, which was the last time I was able to go to the yard.
“You’d love to be there for those historical moments but my job was done before today and I have a fantastic team around me.”
Adayar’s odds for October’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe were subsequently halved by some bookmakers from 10-1 to 5-1.
John Gosden confirmed Mishriff will be aimed at next month’s Juddmonte International at York.
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