Hukum rises above all in King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Owen Burrows’ stable flagbearer Hukum (6 h Sea The Stars – Aghareed by Kingmambo) answered all potential doubters in emphatic fashion yesterday as he bravely battled to deliver a historic success in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 4f) at Ascot.
Having registered a breakthrough victory at flat racing’s top table when landing the Coronation Cup (Gr 1, 1m 4f) on June 3 last year, after which he sustained an injury, the son of Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) reappeared with a determined victory in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Sandown on May 25, beating Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) hero Desert Crown (Nathaniel) by a half-length.
Ridden by usual partner Jim Crowley in yesterday’s prestigious contest, the six-year-old entire travelled well turning into the home straight behind the Coolmore-owned pacesetter Bolshoi Ballet (Galileo).
Asked for an effort hitting the two-furlong marker, Hukum pulled clear with Westover (Frankel) and Epsom Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett) for company and was made to produce every ounce of effort to overhaul the former in a rousing battle to the line.
Westover, who won last year’s Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) following his second-placed effort in the English equivalent, was game in defeat and lost out by a head, with King Of Steel, who was unable to go with the front two in the closing stages, a further four and a half lengths back in third.
“Unbelievable,” Crowley said. “I’ve always believed in him and even last year I said to Owen this could be a King George horse – he’s out of his brother’s shadow now.
“It’s a great training performance by Owen because he was off a year and in fairness to Sheikha Hissa she persisted with him to bring him back into training. It would’ve been very easy to retire him as a full-brother to Baaeed. She had faith and it’s great, that was something special.”
After having made most of the running, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg (Camelot) held on well for fourth place, beaten eight lengths by the winner having been up with the pace throughout.
However, the same could not be said for his stablemate, with dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact), who was sent off the 9-4 favourite, tailing off in last place having never looked comfortable.