The Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) produced a blow out result overnight with established stars Auguste Rodin and Dubai Honour out of the placings and a commanding victory taken by a German bred gelding named Goliath.
Epsom Derby and Breeders Cup winner Auguste Rodin can be either on or off, but was somewhere in between for this assignment finishing fifth with the Francis-Henri Graffard trained Goliath producing the best run of his career to storm clear and win by two and a quarter lengths over last start Group I winner Bluestocking.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Goliath has made steady progress this year and was a last start second in the Group II Hardwicke Stakes, but was 25-1 and few saw him toppling the favourites.
“I couldn’t imagine taking the lead so easily on the bridle,” said Soumillon..
“It’s amazing to be able to enjoy and appreciate such a big win, 150 yards from the line.”
Goliath has the overall record of five wins and two seconds from nine starts with this victory his first in a Group I race,
“I know Goliath, with a good pace, could quicken like this. We came to Ascot to find a strong pace and still at Royal Ascot he was too keen, so I was really hoping for some pace here. But to be fair when I saw the 25-1 I was like 'Oh my God, nobody believes in him'. He travelled so nicely though and when he was like that, I knew he'd be able to quicken strongly,” said Francis Graffard.
The German bred and owned Goliath is by German Derby winner Adlerflug and is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Shamardal mare Gouache, a half-sister to Group II winner Guardini and grand-daughter of Group I winner Guadalupe.
He is the ninth Group I winner among 32 stakes-winners by Adlerflug, best known as the sire of Arc winner Torquator Tasso and is the 15th for Shamardal as a broodmare sire.
