'I love winning like this' - 25-1 outsider Goliath gives giant-killing display to win King George under Christophe Soumillon

It is not often Goliath is the one doing the giant-killing but that was the story of a captivating King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.

Trained in Chantilly by the upwardly mobile Francis Graffard, Goliath was an unheralded 25-1 chance but his superiority over a field that included six Group 1 winners was undeniable. 

Goliath was one of three in the field who went into Britain's midsummer showpiece without a top-level success but, at the first time of asking, he scaled the Group 1 summit in effortless fashion under Christophe Soumillon.      

"I love winning like this," said Graffard, referring to the ease with which Goliath reeled in the leaders before dashing clear over a furlong out.

"I knew with a good pace my horse would be able to quicken like this. We came here to find a strong pace but when I saw he was 25-1, I was like, 'Oh my God, nobody believes in him'.  

"He travelled so nicely and, when it was going like that, I knew he'd be able to quicken strongly."

A lack of pace in the Hardwicke Stakes meant Goliath raced too keenly at Royal Ascot, but the fact he was still able to finish second gave connections plenty of hope on their return trip to Berkshire.   

With Ballydoyle pacesetter Hans Andersen ensuring an honest gallop for stablemates Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg, there were few excuses this time, although Aidan O'Brien was critical of the ground as, for a second year running, Auguste Rodin was a beaten favourite in fifth. 

There were no such complaints from Graffard and his team, having pulled off a giant-killing result in one of British racing's crown jewels with Philip Baron von Ullmann's lightly raced four-year-old.

"I worked four years here in England for Sheikh Mohammed," said Graffard. "I was going to every racecourse and fell in love with racing here. I always wanted to train in Chantilly, but I knew as soon as I had a good horse I would come over and try and be competitive. It's always fantastic to be here."  

Goliath stretches clear of his rivals in the King GeorgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Already gelded, Goliath is ineligible for October's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but although the immediate future is unclear for the winner, this could easily be the first of many King Georges.

"Unfortunately, my two best horses [Goliath and Calandagan] are geldings, so we'll have to see what we do next," said the trainer. "The spring was planned around this race and I'm happy it worked. Now we can sit down, have a nice drink, and see where we go next."

Goliath's victory provided Soumillon with a second victory in the King George, 18 years after the first on Hurricane Run and the Belgian rider said the feeling could hardly have been more different the second time around. 

"When you're young and you win such big races you think it's going to happen ten times in your life, but when you get older you realise that when it's happening you need to enjoy every moment of it and, for me, it's pure pleasure today," said Soumillon. 

Although the winner, the runner-up and fourth-placed Sunway came close on the turn for home, Soumillion said the race went like a "dream" from his perspective. 

"When I came into the straight I was cruising behind William Buick and Ryan Moore," said the 43-year-old. "When I moved him out he accelerated on the bit very easily. I didn't want to hit the front too early but, when I asked him to go, he changed gear.

"I had a chance to check the big screen and saw I was two or three lengths clear. I looked to my left to make sure I wasn't dreaming and, no, it was real.

"For sure he was a 25-1 shot but we were very optimistic. We just needed a lot of pace in the race and everything went like a dream for him."

Christophe Soumillon salutes the crowd on his way to the winner's enclosureCredit: Edward Whitaker

For the second year running, trainer Ralph Beckett and owner-breeders Juddmonte filled second spot, with Bluestocking following in the hoofprints of last year's runner-up Westover. 

"No excuses and I was just thrilled with her," said Beckett. "She never flinches and it was a huge effort. If she recovers in time she'll go for the Yorkshire Oaks and will almost certainly go to the Arc as well."

Rebel's Romance, a five-time Group 1 winner across the globe, finished third on his first try at the highest level in Britain and rider William Buick said: "On his very best day he might have another gear, but he's just run third in the King George, so we've got to be pretty happy."     

Read more . . .

King George expert jury: was Goliath's Ascot triumph a fluke or is the winner a true giant?  

'Nowhere near good to firm anywhere' - Aidan O'Brien blames Ascot ground for Auguste Rodin's King George defeat 

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