PING GEORGE
Self-isolating trainer’s joy
PING when you’re winning! Adayar became the first Derby winner since Galileo 20 years ago to land the King George VI And Queen elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
But the Epsom hero’s trainer, Charlie Appleby, was forced to watch on television at his Moulton Paddocks base after being ‘pinged’ by the NHS app.
The mile-and-a-half midsummer highlight – a field of five assembled after Wonderful Tonight was pulled out when forecast storms failed to materialise – was billed as a clash of the generations and genders between Adayar and last season’s dual Classic heroine, the Aidan O’Briensaddled Love.
But Ryan Moore’s mount floundered as Adayar, committed to the front by William Buick passing the twofurlong pole, galloped with determination to score by a length and threequarters ahead of Mishriff, with 13-8 favourite Love the same margin in third.
“It was a good Derby and we were confident that the horse was in great form,” said the trainer, winning the King George for the first time.
“You’d love to be there for these historic moments but my job was done and I’ve a great team around me. Once I’ve done my piece and sent him to the races, William and the team take over from there.
“William’s a fantastic jockey, he’s a great team member and he knows his horses. He’s given him a peach of a ride.”
Buick, who captured the race a decade earlier on the John Gosdentrained Nathaniel, added: “He was doing as he pleased. He could go when he wanted to and at the top of the straight he filled himself up and off he went.
“He wasn’t quite sure how to channel his power, but now he’s learned how to use himself.”
The result continued a golden campaign for Appleby, whose Derby third Hurricane Lane has since won the Irish version at the Curragh and ParisLongchamp’s Grand Prix de Paris.
Outlining the path the colts will steer to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the French capital on October 3, Appleby said: “The likelihood is that this horse will be aimed towards the Arc, with maybe a run in the Prix Niel.
“Hurricane Lane will head towards the St Leger and if he wins the St Leger in a fashion that we feel the Arc is achievable as well, then we will regroup after that.
“We’re in a very privileged position.”