QIPCO IRISH CHAMPION STAKES (Group 1)

IN the biggest surprise in the race’s 34-year history, the unheralded Decorated Knight came from out of the clouds to head an unexpected clean sweep for the English raiders in one of the country’s iconic prizes.

Beforehand the stage looked set for Churchill, the well-supported odds-on favourite, to build on his Juddmonte second and record a first Group 1 success over 10 furlongs.

However, he had to settle for seventh after a troubled run but, even with a clear passage, the dual Guineas hero would have been hard pressed to deal with the winner who produced a stunning surge when it mattered most.

Aside from Churchill, the Roger Charlton-trained Decorated Knight was one of only two horses in the field to have won more than once at Group 1 level.

Even so, he was one of the least considered runners with the assumption being that even his best form would leave him well short of the required standard.

In addition, the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes second had finished behind a number of these rivals in both the Eclipse Stakes and the Juddmonte International.

When it comes to Group 1s in Ireland though, Roger Charlton’s strike rate is nothing short of metronomic and, back at the scene initial pattern race triumph in the 2016 Meld Stakes, Decorated Knight turned up in the form of his life.

In the race itself, Eminent set a brisk tempo up front as Andrea Atezeni elected to drop Decorated Knight (25/1) out at the rear of the field. This year’s Tattersalls Gold Cup hero had the entire field to pass as they turned for home but when he was hooked to the outside by his rider he responded with a withering charge.

By contrast, it was getting congested on the inner and Churchill couldn’t quite get into the clear nearing the last furlong as he looked to come between Eminent and Success Days.

By the time daylight arrived the race was over for the favourite and also his stablemate Cliffs Of Moher, who wasn’t done any favours as he looked to work his way through on the inner. Meanwhile, Decorated Knight was in full flight and cutting down one rival after another.

A game Eminent and Moonlight Magic were doing battle up front entering the last furlong but neither of these could muster any response to Decorated Knight who surged to the front with around 100 yards to run.

At the line, the Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar-owned son of Galileo, who is closely related to Giant’s Causeway, had half a length to spare. The runner-up spot went to the highly progressive Poet’s Word and Eminent gamely held on for third. Moonlight Magic was fourth and Taj Mahal did best of Aidan O’Brien’s runners in fifth.

“In my wildest dreams I didn’t think he could come from last to beat a quality field like this. It’s just fantastic. What a result,” said Charlton, whose charge was led up by Asif Sayyed. “Ireland has been very lucky for us, especially the Group 1s here, and we must come back again. We decided to ride for luck and drop in and the race went amazingly well.

“Andrea gave him a very good ride, he was very confident and cool and he rides a lot of very good horses which helps.

“This horse is a proper mile and a quarter horse so I would think he will look at the Champion Stakes at Ascot now, but we’ll just let the dust settle on today first. He’s been on the go since March but has just improved and improved, which is a tribute to the horse.”

Afterwards, Atzeni reflected: “He was full of energy on the way to the start and I just wanted to get him to settle as when he settles he has a very good turn of foot.

“He was unlucky in the Eclipse and the ground was too soft at York and we came here with no pressure on us today.

“I did think that he’d run a big race but didn’t expect him to win. This is a great race and to win here today makes this one of my most special days.”