Hukum the hero in epic King George

The six-year-old Hukum produced a huge run to win a vintage renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.

The son of Sea The Stars, a full brother to the brilliant miler Baaeed, held off the late challenge of Westover as the front two surged clear of the three-year-old King Of Steel.

Victory was Hukum’s second Group 1 success and followed up an impressive comeback win in May when he beat last years’ Derby winner Desert Crown at Sandown.

Speaking to ITV immediately post race Hukum’s rider Jim Crowley reacted, “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.

“Westover got first run at me but it gave me something to aim at. He was so tough, I never felt he was going to come off second best there.”