3 minute read

Kevin Stott warmed up for his King George ride aboard King Of Steel in the perfect way when Baradar stormed to success in the International Stakes at Ascot.

The pace looked fairly evenly split across the two groups but as the field approached the final few furlongs it soon became apparent the advantage was with the near side.

The AMO Racing-owned runner struck the front entering the final furlong and battled on bravely to see off the late charge from Hickory (50/1) to land the prize at 16/1 by half a length for trainer George Boughey.

Star Of Orion backed up his recent Newmarket success with a solid third-place finish while Northern Express and Fools Rush In filled the fourth and fifth spot.

Richard Hannon's Tacarib Bay led home the charge on the far side to finish sixth.

AMO Racing's retained rider Kevin Stott said: "He's probably threatened to do that. He travelled so nicely. We jumped a bit more forward on him today, he's always held-up a little bit, and to be fair I was probably in front a little bit too early, but he travelled so nicely I had to go when I did. He was probably just doing enough.

"It's nice ground but it's a tiny bit tacky; he didn't love it, but he didn't mind it!"