Highland Reel takes King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot

Highland Reel benefited from a brilliant front-running ride from Ryan Moore to claim top honours in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Narrowly beaten by the reopposing Dartmouth in the Hardwicke Stakes at last month’s Royal meeting, the four-year-old was a well-backed 13-8 favourite to gain his revenge and provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fourth King George success.

Moore sent his mount into a clear lead racing down the back straight before giving his mount a breather, which allowed the chasing pack to bridge the gap.

Highland Reel remained in front turning for home, however, and answered Moore’s every call to score by a length and a quarter from Wings Of Desire.

“Ryan gave him a beautiful ride,” said O’Brien.

“Physically, the development is plain and, mentally, he’s a rock.

“He can go back to Australia, he can do Japan, Hong Kong and there’s the Breeders’ Cup Turf.”

Royal runner Dartmouth could only finish third.

Frankel filly Fair Eva had earlier kept her unbeaten record intact with a hugely impressive display in the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes.

Roger Charlton's filly was the 4-6 favourite stepped up to Group Three level in the hands of Frankie Dettori and those who took the prohibitive odds had few worries throughout the six-furlong heat.

Fair Eva was cut to around 4-1 for the 1000 Guineas next spring and could next run in either the Lowther at York of the Moyglare at the Curragh.

Librisa Breeze is due a step up in grade after winning the Gigaset International Stakes, while Apex King emerged victorious in the Wooldridge Group Pat Eddery Stakes.

The latter race, better known as the Winkfield Stakes, was run for the first time in memory of the peerless jockey following Eddery’s death last November.

A plaque at Ascot was also unveiled by his children in honour of the great man.

The 11-times champion jockey’s daughter Nicola Eddery said: “The whole day is quite emotional. I still can’t believe he is not here.”

Charlton and Fair Eva’s owner Prince Khalid Abdullah also struck with Time Test in the Sky Bet York Stakes at the North Yorkshire circuit.

Though he was not that impressive as the 1-2 favourite, a return to York for the Juddmonte International on August 17 is now on the agenda.

Kimberella later dominated his rivals to win the Sky Bet Dash at the third attempt for Dandy Nicholls, with Alex Ferguson at York as a joint-owner to cheer home Nautical Haven, who landed the opening maiden.