King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)

KING Of Steel proved his Derby second was no fluke by powering to glory in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes under a cool ride from Kevin Stott.

The imposing Roger Varian-trained colt, sent off the 11/10 favourite, loomed up in the straight and, despite edging right under pressure, readily stormed clear to score for an emphatic three-and-a-half-length victory.

Continuous was slightly impeded by the winner but it had no bearing on the result, with Ryan Moore’s mount finishing two and a half lengths clear of third-placed Artistic Star.

It was another winner this week for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, which broke its Royal Ascot duck when Valiant Force caused a 150/1 shock in the Norfolk Stakes.

Varian said: “It is a relief! When they run so big in the Derby, you want them to back it up. We were confident King Of Steel would, but this is horse racing!

“We went on the signs that the horse was giving us. Raul Da Silva has done a wonderful job riding this horse most mornings, as has the whole team at home.

“I am delighted for Kia [Joorabchian], and was delighted that Kia got his winner yesterday, it took a bit of the pressure off us!

Thoughts of Paris

Joorabchian said: “I could hardly watch the whole way round, but when I heard the shouting in my box I knew we had hit the front. I was staying quiet until it happened.

“I love this track so much. I loved it as a kid and I wanted to run here, even though I know it was a big decision not to go for the Irish Derby. We decided to run here and then go for the Grand Prix de Paris after that.”

Stott said: “I was nervous, I’m not going to lie to you. There was a bit of pressure and, after finishing second in the Derby, you have to go out and prove it was no fluke.

“He’s a very good horse.”

Sandringham Stakes

FRANKIE Dettori wasn’t long making it 81 winners at Royal Ascot, doubling up on the day with and the John and Thady Gosden-trained Coppice, who dominated the Sandringham Handicap.

The Kingman filly is a full sister to Calyx, most impressive in the Coventry Stakes in 2018 for her same owners Juddmonte, and took care of a mark of 97 comfortably here, powering home on the stands’ side ahead of the John Quinn-trained Breege, with Balalaika in third and Aidan O’Brien’s Unless back in fourth.

It was a fourth winner of the week for Dettori and creates a nice side narrative to the final day of the meeting as he lies just one winner behind Ryan Moore in the race to be leading jockey at the meeting.

Dettori said: “That was a good effort and the Juddmonte team are here, including His Highness [Prince Saud Abdullah] and all the stud people, so to get a winner for them is amazing. They have been great supporters of me going back to the filly Enable and other good horses.

“At one point we thought Coppice was a Guineas filly, but she didn’t come to hand until too late, so we put her in this race thinking she would be competitive and she was. We do think she will be a Group-race filly.

“I tracked the leaders, I got her settled, I got the splits when I wanted, and she did the rest. It was a very smooth performance and, in these races, you don’t usually get that.

“I love Ascot, I will miss it, but I’m enjoying the moment. I won my first Gold Cup in 1992 and 31 years later I ride another one, my ninth. It’s been a good place for me and I’ve still got tomorrow.”

Hooves

Hollie Doyle and Archie Watson notched up their second winner of the week when well-backed 12/1 shot Rhythm N Hooves came home strongest to land the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes.

Owned by the Cool Silk Partnership, whose colours were previously carried to victory at the Royal Meeting by Prince Of Lir in the 2016 Norfolk Stakes, the lightly raced gelding by Pearl Secret had been available at 33/1 in the morning and rewarded his supporters when scoring by a neck.

The trainer-jockey partnership had combined to win Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes with Bradsell and were also narrowly touched off in the Coventry Stakes when 20/1 shot Army Ethos was beaten a neck by River Tiber.

Watson said: “It’s great for the owners and my whole team. This was a chuck at the dartboard in a very competitive handicap. He’s an unexposed horse and it’s just great that he’s done it.”