QIPCO KING GEORGE

VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH

STAKES (GROUP 1)

THE absence of top three-year-olds has led to criticism of the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in recent years. However, on Saturday at Ascot two of the older generation, both trained by Sir Michael Stoute, engaged in a pulsating battle which did the famous Group 1 contest proud.

In the end Poet’s Word, continuing this year’s progress, wore down his stable-companion Crystal Ocean to prevail by a neck. The others were well beaten off, though the filly Coronet deserves credit for keeping on in third.

Rostropovich and Salouen disputed the early running at a searching pace with Crystal Ocean poised in third. It would be impossible to better William Buick’s ride on Crystal Ocean, who was certain to stay and shot past soon after turning in, securing the far rail and quickly going clear.

It seemed that nothing would deny him but James Doyle made ground relentlessly from two furlongs out and Poet’s Word went right through with his effort to get up close home. It was a quite magnificent spectacle, made possible by Stoute’s sublime touch with talented older middle-distance horses and the willingness to run both.

For someone who was briefly out of favour at Godolphin, Doyle now looks a genuine class act. This was his third Group 1 victory in just over a month and followed his calm finish on Sea Of Class in the Irish Oaks.

Here, a slow start meant he had only one of the seven runners behind him down the far side and the situation became rather more serious when Coronet lost her pitch quite suddenly as Crystal Ocean kicked on.

OVERDRIVE

Refusing to look for gaps, Doyle took his time, gradually moved Poet’s Word into overdrive and opted for a searing late run down the outside. The string of high-level victories has brought with it more self-confidence and catching Buick in a race of this nature is no easy matter.

“He’s a true warrior,” Doyle said of the winner. “He’s so professional and he responds really well. I just had to be patient. The filly dropped off a bit and that was frustrating because Crystal Ocean was getting first run on me. I had to be brave and attack late and he’s helped me out. He’s the real star today.”

Buick was generous in defeat, acknowledging that Crystal Ocean, runner-up in last year’s St Leger, had been caught by a horse with slightly superior speed.

Stoute was winning the race for a record sixth time, going all the way back to Shergar in 1981. Later on, before the assembled press, he paid tribute to both horses. “They are two wonderful, brave athletes,” he said. “There’s nothing between them, really, and it’s a pity one had to lose.

“James Doyle could have timed his run a bit better and made it a dead-heat! It’s a race we’ve always loved to come and compete in and win. It’s a midsummer championship at a wonderful racecourse.”

It is hard to believe that Poet’s Word was beaten seven lengths by Cracksman in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot last October. That was on soft ground, of course, and Stoute’s warrior has had his revenge this term. This was hardly a betting market in the absence of Cracksman, Crystal Ocean just shading favouritism at 6/4 with the winner on 7/4.

It seems unlikely that they will meet again. Poet’s Word may be considered for the Juddmonte International, whereas Crystal Ocean clearly wants a mile and a half plus.

It should not be overlooked that both had a hard race last week and York follows on soon enough. Anyone lucky enough to be at Ascot saw a classic in all but name.