Poet's Word Wears Down Crystal Ocean to Win King George

There was a neck between Poet's Word and Crystal Ocean in the July 28 QIPCO King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot, but a gulf between them and the rest as they underlined Sir Michael Stoute's preeminence in the race that most defines his career with a record sixth victory for the trainer.

Barely separable on form, rating, and in the betting, the stablemates settled their differences only at the end of a thrilling, final-furlong tussle in which the James Doyle-ridden Poet's Word, conqueror of Cracksman in the June 20 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, emerged triumphant.

"It's a pity there was a loser—that's how you sum it up," said Stoute. "I thought Doyle could done a little bit better and got a dead heat! They are two such admirable horses, delightful to train."

Stoute's rosy relationship with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes began 37 years ago, when he claimed flat racing's midsummer championship race with his greatest horse, Shergar.

He saddled a 1-2-3 in 2009—when Conduit beat Tartan Bearer and Ask—and the following year watched Harbinger land the prize by a record margin of 11 lengths.

Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's Crystal Ocean, who provided Stoute with an 11th Hardwicke Stakes (G2) in June when he became Royal Ascot's winningest trainer, shaded the betting at 6-4 over 7-4 Poet's Word, owned by Saeed Suhail.

He appeared set to edge the race, too, as he was sent into a clear lead by William Buick when Rostropovich dropped away with two furlongs to run.

Poet's Word was being hard-driven by Doyle with about three lengths to make up but began to close as the line approached, getting on top only in the final 75 yards and leaving daylight back to the next finisher, Coronet, nine lengths behind.

Doyle (four days) and Buick (two) both received bans for whip breaches.

"There was nothing between them, really," said Stoute. "I felt Poet's Word wouldn't get there until the last 100 yards or so.

"It's a great midseason race, and we have been lucky enough to do very well in it. It's a great team effort. You have no idea how much they all put into these horses."

The King George is a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Nov. 3 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs, awarding the winner a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the 1 1/2-mile test—but Poet's Word already secured a berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf with his Prince of Wales's win.

Stoute, 72, had not won the King George since 2010, when the flow of group 1 triumphs for his Newmarket stable slowed. He gained the last of his 10 flat trainers' championships in 2009.

"If you look closely, we were having good winners abroad, in Breeders' Cups, et cetera," he said. "We were hanging in there. I'm never going to be champion trainer again. I don't have the numbers, and the quality has deteriorated with the Weinstocks getting out of racing, but at least we're making a few runs. I'll keep going.

"It's lovely to win a King George, but I don't think I have spent my life thinking I wanted it. It's a race we always love to come and compete in and win. I haven't done it enough times if you like, but we're satisfied."

Poet's Word, now a group 1 winner at a mile and a half as well as a mile and a quarter, was cut to between a 7-4 and 3-1 chance (from 4-1 generally) for the Aug. 22 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1)—in which he is now challenging Roaring Lion for favoritism—and to between 7-1 and 9-1 (from 10-1 generally) for the Oct. 7 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Crystal Ocean was also cut for the Arc and is quoted at between 7-1 and 12-1.

Doyle has won two out of three on Poet's Word, their only defeat coming in last year's QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1).

"He was also second on him in the Irish Champion Stakes last year and was probably a little unlucky that day when he just didn't get the rub of the green," said Stoute, who was reluctant to nominate a next target. "Soundness and temperament and an owner that's let me be patient with him is the key. They are in all the decent races, but I don't know where they will go next. We have to take them home and see how they come out of this."

He added: "It's a joy to train those two colts. It's a midsummer championship at a wonderful racecourse."