Saturday, 24 July 2010
Harbinger put up a devastating performance to run right away with the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Olivier Peslier looked to be going best as he sat in fourth place as they turned into the straight in the Betfair-sponsored contest, and the response was electrifying when he asked for an effort.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt (4-1) brushed Derby winners Cape Blanco and Workforce aside as he powered an amazing 11 lengths clear, with Cape Blanco finishing second and Youmzain third.
Peslier said: "You can imagine how I felt in the last furlong when I saw the big screen and I could see the others so far behind.
"The horse today is the king, he is a wonderful horse. I knew he was very good, but today he was flying and won so well.
"He travelled the way I wanted and he kept going, I didn't have to ask him anything. He was just flying. He is a champion."
Stoute added: "Olivier was just cantering, he travelled so well and he was looking good from a long way out. It was a superb performance.
"Harbinger has a great mind, he's very good mentally, which helps you to develop him. We'll take him home and see where we are. I always said we'd think about his autumn programme and work back from there. We'll consider the Arc."
On being told he was evens for the great French showpiece, a race Stoute has yet to win, the trainer smiled: "Even-money is he? What a joke."