3 minute read
Goliath ensured France would land their first King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes since 2006 when running out an empathic winner in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.
Anticipated pacemaker Hans Andersen was driven to the front by Sean Levey following a sluggish beginning, and with both Luxembourg and the dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin adopting prominent positions in behind, all looked to be going plain sailing for the Ballydoyle battalion.
As the pace began to lift, Hans Andersen's faded away, leaving Luxembourg at the head of affairs turning for home. All eyes were on Auguste Rodin as the 7/4 market leader appeared to travel strongly in the slipstream, but as push came to shove on board the recent Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner, it quickly became apparent a King George victory would yet again illude the talented four-year-old.
Charlie Appleby's globetrotting star Rebel's Romance was always well-poised to strike under William Buick and although he briefly looked to threaten with a handful of furlongs to travel, the complexion of the race was swiftly about to turn upside down as the French-trained Goliath, who was sent off an unfancied 25/1, entered the equation cantering in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.
Soumillon continued to sit motionless as jockeys of the market principals rowed away in behind, and after toying with his rivals for a brief moment, the Belgium-born star kicked his mount clear into what would go on to be an unassailable advantage.
Bluestocking set off in chase from the rear of the field under Rossa Ryan, but Ralph Beckett's recent Pretty Polly Stakes heroine never looked like getting near the eventual winner, who quickened up in fine style for a somewhat surprising two-and-a-quarter-length triumph.
"When I had a chance to look at the big screen, I saw I was two or three lengths clear and I had to check I was not dreaming," said Soumillon, who partnered Hurricane Run to land the midsummer showpiece for trainer Andre Fabre in 2006.
"It's such an amazing feeling winning one of the biggest races in the world with an amazing horse. He was a 25-1 shot, but I was very optimistic, and I knew he just needed a fast pace in the race. It was like a dream."
It was a first success in the contest for trainer Francis Graffard, who said of the performance: "I know my horse likes running off a good pace and can quicken like this, so we came here to Ascot to find a strong pace, as last time at Royal Ascot he was still too keen.
"So, we were desperate for some pace but when I saw his big odds I thought 'oh my God, nobody believes in him'.
"But he travelled so nicely and when he was like that, I knew he was able to quicken strongly.
"When you come and you are around 28-1, you feel you might look like a fool and you don't want that, but I think some punters will be happy now."
Graffard, who tasted Ascot success at the royal meeting when Calandagan spread-eagled the field in the King Edward VII Stakes last month, may look at further international options for his latest star.
He said: "I don't know without speaking to the owners. He can't go for the Arc (as a gelding), so we will look at international races.
"Breeders' Cup, the Japan Cup – all options are open to him. We'll see how he comes back, but I can't say for definite at this moment."