Six up for Stoute as Poet’s Word collars Crystal Ocean

– There was a neck between Poet’s Word and Crystal Ocean but a gulf between them and the rest as the pair underlined Sir Michael Stoute’s preeminence in the Qipco-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Poet’s Word was the trainer’s sixth success in a race that defines his career more than any other.

Barely separable on form, ratings and in the betting, the pair settled their differences only at the end of a thrilling final-200m tussle in which the James Doyleridden Poet’s Word, conqueror of Cracksman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, emerged triumphant over Hardwicke winner Crystal Ocean.

Ascot

“It’s a pity there was a loser, that’s how you sum it up,” said Stoute. “I thought Doyle could have done a little bit better and got a dead-heat! They are two such admirable horses, delightful to train.”

Stoute’s rosy relationship with the King George began 37 years ago when he claimed Flat racing’s midsummer championship race with Shergar, his greatest-ever horse.

He saddled the first three home in 2009, when Conduit beat Tartan Bearer and Ask, and the following year watched Harbinger land the prize by a record winning margin of 11 lengths.

Stoute’s King George winners started with Shergar (ridden by Walter Swinburn) in 1981 and then Michael Roberts gave him his second in 1993 with Opera House. His others were Golan (Kieren Fallon) in 2002, Conduit (Ryan Moore) in 2009 and Harbinger (Olivier Peslier) in 2010.

Sir Evelyn de Rothschild’s Crystal Ocean – who provided Stoute with an 11th Hardwicke Stakes in June when he became Royal Ascot’s winning-most trainer – headed the betting at 6-4 over 7-4 shot Poet’s Word, owned by Saeed Suhail.

He appeared set to edge it as he was sent into a clear lead by William Buick when Rostropovich dropped away with 400m to run.

Poet’s Word was being hard driven by Doyle with about three lengths to make up, but began to close as the line approached, getting on top only in the final 75m, the pair leaving daylight between them and Coronet, nine lengths behind in third.

Doyle (four days) and Buick (two) received bans for whip breaches.

“There was nothing between them really,” said Stoute. “I felt Poet’s Word wouldn’t get there until the last 100m or so.

“It’s a great mid-season race and we’ve been lucky enough to do very well in it. It’s a great team effort. You have no idea how much they all put into these horses.”

Stoute, 72, had not won the King George since 2010, since when the flow of Group 1 triumphs for his Newmarket stable has slowed. He gained the last of his 10 Flat trainers’ championships in 2009.

Poet’s Word, now a Group 1 winner at 2400m and 2000m, is favourite in most books for the Juddmonte International and is as short as 6-1 for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Crystal Ocean was also cut for the Arc, and is quoted at between 7-1 and 12-1.

Doyle has won two out of his three rides on Poet’s Word, their only defeat coming in last year’s Irish Champion Stakes.

Stoute concluded: “It’s a joy to train those two colts. It’s a midsummer championship at a wonderful racecourse.” –