Adayar to remember as Derby hero storms home in King George Triumph

Determined. Decisive. Defiant. All the superlatives that describe the manner in which Adayar put his rivals to the sword and powered on dourly to become the first horse in 20 years to make it a Derby-King George double, scoring under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin.

William Buick salutes the crowd in jubilation after Adayar storms home to victory

PHOTO: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Having emulated his grandsire, the legendary and already much missed Galileo, in taking the Epsom Derby in clinical fashion seven weeks earlier, the son of Frankel took up the lead two furlongs out under William Buick, and was simply not for catching as he defied the persistent attempts of Dubai Sheema Classic winner Mishriff and the indefatigable Love, who were both held off by almost 2 lengths apiece.

Not since Galileo in 2001 had any horse successfully completed the double of winning the Derby at Epsom and then scoring in Ascot’s pinnacle mid-season race in the same season. Only Kris Kin and New Approach have fared best in the 20 years since Galileo’s victory and Adayar’s, with both of them finishing third.

Even though the stats were very much against him, the confidence was high for the team behind the Derby winner, with David Menusier pulling out his star filly Wonderful Tonight, winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, on account of the going, which was Good to Firm, Firm in Places.

The predicted and threatened thunderstorms for the area, prevalent in various weather warnings in the days leading up to the race, never materialised, much to the disappointment of the team behind the filly, who needed softer conditions to arrive for her to take her place in the race.

As the field left the stalls on the mile and a half journey, it was Broome under Wayne Lordan who made a hash of the start, slowly away and having to be rousted along on the outside to get up to the front of the field. Ryan Moore glanced across to see where William Buick on Adayar and Frankie Dettori on Lone Eagle were doing, with all three happy to let Broome take the field along, having come around the outside to take the lead as the field went down the back to Swinley Bottom.

Adayar was a little keen in second going around the bend, but not a serious element of concern as the pace lifted and the field began to climb towards the last half of the race inside the final six furlongs. Mishriff and David Egan were very happy to sit at the back, biding their time and waiting to shadow any move from Love or Adayar.

Swinging into the home straight with three furlongs to run Wayne Lordan sent on Broome in an attempt to strike a telling blow, but it was more a damp squib as William Buick had the move covered on Adayar, and like a fisherman in a shallow pond has quickly reeled him in and swept past with two furlongs to run. Mishriff and David Egan made their move around the home turn in addition to Adayar, looking to lock eyes with the Epsom hero, and in the meantime inconveniencing Love, who was prevented from swinging wide to have a crack at the new leader. Adayar dug in up front for his willing partner, keeping Mishriff and Love at bay, while the early exertions of Broome and the efforts of 4 weeks previously of Lone Eagle began to tell as they kept on behind at one pace.

Adayar in full cry at Ascot

PHOTO: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Adayar knuckled down like a prize-fighter inside the final furlong, grimly sticking to the task at hand and fending off Love and Mishriff, who to their credit kept at him all the way to the line, but could never find a gap in his armour of stamina. Adayar took victory, much to the ecstasy of his rider, by one and three quarter lengths, with Mishriff the same distance ahead of Love in third.

Speaking afterwards, William Buick declared that he was “a bit speechless” after the victory of the son of Frankel. “I’m very fortunate to ride these horses”.

“He’s a great horse and a great Derby winner”.

“Today he gave me a feeling of endless power”, he added. “It was instant”, referring as well to the change of pace that got him onto the coat-tails of Broome and past in a matter of strides.

Interestingly it was Buick who rode the last three year old colt to win the King George in Nathaniel in 2011, however he did not contest the Derby that year due to fast ground. Reflecting afterwards, Buick seemed to be somewhat apologetic over his celebration crossing the line, but no one could blame him for expressing his delight. “I really enjoyed it”, he stated to the assembled media afterwards. “Ten years is a long time ( since he last won it with Nathaniel ) so it feels like I’ve won it for the first time”.

“I’m at an age where maybe I enjoy it more”.

It was certainly a marvellous occasion for all connections, but the trainer of the winner Charlie Appleby was unable to attend Ascot on Saturday, having been pinged by the NHS Track & Trace app earlier in the week and forced to self-isolate as a precaution.

He did manage to air his comments about the performance of his Derby winner, saying that his charge deserved “all the plaudits”. “When the bell rang he put himself in the firing line and galloped to the line”.

Speaking to Dubai Racing on Monday, he noted that his two star Godolphin 3 year olds would both go for the Arc as future plans, but would be kept apart until the race in October.

“Adayar will go to the Arc via a trial, possibly the Prix Niel ( at ParisLongchamp on Sunday 12th September )”, while he also specified that Hurricane Lane, defeated by Adayar at Epsom, would go for the St Leger at Doncaster.

Of the beaten horses, their connections were a mix of moods. John Gosden stated post race that his charge Mishriff, who he trains in partnership with his son Thady, had run an excellent race, and would then head up to York for the Juddmonte International on their next start. He noted to the assembled press that after winning the race in the past with Nathaniel, Taghrooda and Enable, all of which were three years old when successful, that the weight allowance three year olds get in a factor in them being successful against the more experienced rivals.

“There’s nothing wrong with that though”, he was keen to add. “I love to see the three year olds against their elders!”

“He’s ( Mishriff ) run an absolute blinder, and will head to York next ( for the Juddmonte International”.

On the flip side to Gosden’s philosophical viewpoint, Martyn Meade had to report to the stewards after the race, who considered the performance of the gelding Lone Eagle, who came home in last.

His charge had just been caught 4 weeks earlier at the Curragh in the Irish Derby by Hurricane Lane when attempting to steal the Irish Derby from under his rivals’ noses. The victor that day then went on to win the Grand Prix Du Paris at Longchamp two and a half weeks later, so it was disappointing that he couldn’t frank the form and take the King George, the race at the Curragh clearly leaving more of a mark than first thought.

The trainer reported to the stewards that his horse ran flat, which was evident as he failed to pick up swinging around the home bend, never being able to strike a blow on the other protagonists and coming home at one pace under Frankie Dettori.

Love was attempting to win a fifth straight top level race, but just couldn’t back up her victory in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, whilst Broome couldn’t replicate his victory in the Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud a few weeks earlier, which was their maiden Group 1 win.

Adayar was subsequently after the race cut by several bookmakers into a general 5/1 for the Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe in October at ParisLongchamp, and he would look to be a serious candidate to return the trophy to the UK after Waldgeist took the race last season. With Adayar however, one thing was certain. If this was a champion in ascendance after his Derby win, Adayar must be a great in brilliance after his performance in Berkshire at the weekend.