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Trainer Charlie Appleby hailed Adayar as the best mile and a half horse he has ever trained as the colt powered to an emphatic length and three-quarter victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
Disappointingly for the Godolphin trainer, he had to watch the race from his Newmarket home, another victim of the Covid-19 test and trace pingdemic.
But the trainer who has had to stay away from his stable since Wednesday at least could enjoy the race on his sofa in relative comfort as the William Buick-ridden 9-4 shot became the 14th Derby winner to land the King George in the same season and the first since Galileo, one of the greats of the Turf, in 2001.
William Buick rode Adayar to victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes
The disappointing performances of some recent Derby winners has meant the default position of many observers has been to treat the Derby form with suspicion until proven otherwise.
The dramatic four and a half length win of Adayar at Epsom had left many wondering whether it was too good to be true.
Now we know Adayar is the real deal after he fought off globetrotting Mishriff with Aidan O'Brien's five-time group one winner Love, the 13-8 favourite, beaten three and a half lengths in third.
The Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October is now in Adayar's sights - possibly via
