Goliath slays rivals to pull off shock 25-1 King George victory with ease | Horse racing

Eighteen years after one of the most memorable King George moments, a more mature and composed Christophe Soumillon triumphed in Ascot’s midsummer showcase on Saturday, riding the 25-1 outsider Goliath, relishing the experience as he crossed the finish line.

“I never expected to take the lead so effortlessly while on the bridle,” he remarked. “It’s incredible to enjoy and appreciate a significant victory just 150 yards from the finish.”

Soumillon’s exuberant celebration while riding Hurricane Run in 2006, which included his rear end and an index finger, left its exact meaning ambiguous, though his partnership with André Fabre, the colt’s trainer, never fully recovered from that incident.

This victory was neither the first nor the last moment of exuberance or controversy surrounding Soumillon; it marked only his third Group One win since receiving a 60-day suspension for elbowing Rossa Ryan off his horse during a race in September 2022.

Yet, through both triumphs and trials, “Soumi” has remained a compelling figure, with Goliath’s win being another remarkable highlight in his illustrious career. Francis-Henri Graffard’s gelding was viewed as an underdog but raced like a favorite, comfortably tracking the strong pace before accelerating swiftly to secure the win as Auguste Rodin, the odds-on favorite, faded to finish fifth.

“As I rounded the turn, I sensed he was easily moving forward,” Soumillon stated. “The way he gallops, with his head and ears, he somewhat resembles Hurricane Run. He’s a bit less mischievous, but he’s a fantastic champion, and I’m incredibly proud of the Francis Graffard team. They believed in me again, and today I seized that opportunity.”

Following the incident with Ryan, Soumillon lost his long-standing retainership with the Aga Khan, yet he remains a formidable presence in the sport, confident that he still has many more significant wins ahead.

“I draw inspiration from many people, especially Frankie [Dettori], seeing how many winners and top horses he secured by the end of his career here in the UK,” Soumillon expressed. “While our fitness levels may differ, the experience allows you to remain calmer and know how to handle a good horse in a high-stakes race. At 43, I still have plenty of time to achieve more.”

“The last time I won the King George, there were negative events unfolding that evening, leaving me unable to appreciate the victory. That’s a story from the past, and now I have a new one to tell.”

In reality, a controversy did arise post-race, revolving around comments made by Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Auguste Rodin, regarding the track conditions, which were officially stated as good, good-to-firm in places.

“When we arrived here, we examined the track and had serious concerns at that time,” O’Brien said on ITV Racing. “It was good, good-to-soft in certain areas; it certainly did not meet the conditions of good-to-firm, as it was chopped up along the rails and heavily sanded.”

“However, we had no choice but to race where we were, so we had to go down there [in the race]. With hindsight, we should have remained on the faster ground, but that’s just how the day unfolded for us.”

Nevertheless, Chris Stickels, the clerk of the course, stood by the going description.

“I’ve taken note of Aidan’s comments,” Stickels responded later. “The times do not support that; they show it’s a blend of good-to-firm and good, or good and good-to-firm in the round course.”

“We take Going Stick readings, moisture readings, and we watered last night with 3mm because we wanted to avoid it becoming too firm in places during the afternoon today. There’s always some divot mix left over after racing the previous day. That would have also been the case at Royal Ascot when Auguste Rodin secured the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.”