By Tom Frary
Virtually ignored ahead of Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, Philip Baron Von Ullmann's Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}–Gouache {Ger}, by Shamardal) had a sting in the tail for his revered fellow contenders as he dominated the Ascot feature. Only second in the course-and-distance G2 Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained 4-year-old thrived off the strong pace set by the Ballydoyle contingent and was travelling notably powerfully under Christophe Soumillon straightening for home.
Committed 1 1/2 furlongs out, the 25-1 shot bounded clear for an emphatic 2 1/4-length success from Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), with another 3 1/4 lengths back to Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third. The 7-4 favourite Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was a well-beaten fifth, having held every chance turning for home. This was the first French-trained winner of the race since Hurricane Run (Ire) in 2006 and Soumillon, who also partnered that past luminary, was able to appreciate the experience this time.
“There was a big fight in the straight that day and today was a different feeling because I was travelling up the straight without anyone by my side,” he explained. “It was a very comfortable race and I knew at the two-furlong marker the game was over for the others. When I came in the straight I was cruising and when I took him out he just accelerated on the bit very easily and just switched gear. Everything was perfect today and he won like the best horse in the race.”
This appeared a straightforward case of Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and ultimately Auguste Rodin and Rebel's Romance going too hard in the middle part of the race, but the latest eclipse of the favourite was believed by Aidan O'Brien to be related to ground conditions on the inside. Whatever the reason for his tame effort in the straight, Goliath was able to enter the fray without any pressure and when released passing two out surged away from the Juddmonte homebred who was coming from further back.
The slowed-down race finish percentage tells its own tale, with stamina required in abundance once again in what is always a gruelling affair. “I know my horse likes running off a good pace and can quicken like this and last time at Royal Ascot he was still too keen,” Graffard explained. “He travelled so nicely and when he was like that, I knew he was able to quicken strongly. When you come and you are around 28-1, you feel you might look like a fool and you don't want that, but I think some punters will be happy now.”
Goliath, who was winning the Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine on this Saturday last year, entered this a lightly-raced type whose sole black-type win had come in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix d'Hedouville in May. Subsequently fourth in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and 3 3/4 lengths behind the absent Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Hardwicke, he had an unlikely King George-winning profile coming here and the way the main contenders folded so far out will lead this race to be scrutinised for some time.
Aidan O'Brien was unhappy with the conditions in the immediate aftermath. “When we walked the track, we were very worried then. It was good, good-to-soft in places,” he relayed. “Nowhere was it good-to-firm and it was cut up on the rails, it was full of sand. We knew we had no choice, that's where we were, we had to go down there and with the benefit of hindsight, we should have come off the bad ground and out onto the quicker ground.”
“That's the way it is and that's the way it fell for us today,” he added. “There will be other days. We were going to go to the Japan Cup and maybe give him a run in between somewhere, so we will see how he is and what the lads want to do.”
Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon said of Bluestocking, “She ran an absolute stormer, we're over the moon and she's beaten some proper horses. It was a breakneck pace from start to finish, she was able to relax and Rossa [Ryan] was able to get her into a nice position and we knew she would finish off well–she did, but there was one too good for us today.”
“We'll just see how she is and that is two hard races in a month now. Ralph will see how she comes out of it and races like the Yorkshire Oaks, Prix Vermeille and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe are all on the cards and we'll let her tell us where she wants to go.”
Charlie Appleby said of Rebel's Romance, “It was a solid run again and realistically, on some paper form, this is the strongest depth of race he has been in. Will said he got a great run round there and he's gone to win his race and found the length he would normally find, but there are younger, potentially classier horses coming over the top of you nowadays. In respects to where we go, we will be back on our travels, needless to say, with a horse who maintains plenty of enthusiasm to be competing at the top level. There are going to be opportunities abroad for him and that was a solid run against some of the best he will have faced for a few years. He might join the American team or he might go to Germany and then to the (Hong Kong) Vase.”
Goliath, who like his similarly impressive Ascot-winning stablemate Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) cannot contest the Arc, could also be sent overseas for more major prizes. “We will look at international races like the Breeders' Cup, the Japan Cup–all options are open to him,” he said. “We'll see how he comes back, but I can't say for definite at this moment.”
Wow! Goliath produces a superb performance to land the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at @Ascot for @CSoumillon and @GraffardRacing… pic.twitter.com/QQxDcNl7zk
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 27, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Goliath, who becomes the third German-owned horse to win this since 2012 after Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) and Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and Adlerflug's first after Torquator Tasso (Ger) went close two years ago, is the ninth group 1 winner for his late sire. He is the second foal out of the Listed Hoppegartener Stutenpreis winner Gouache (Ger) (Shamardal), herself kin to the triple group-winning Guardini (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}).
Their dam is the dual listed-winning Guantana (Ger) (Dynaformer), a daughter of the G1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Guadalupe (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) whose progeny list is headed by the three-times group 1-winning Guignol (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis hero Guiliani (Ire) (Tertullian). Guadalupe is a full-sister to the G1 Grosser Pries von Baden-winning sire Getaway (Ger) from the immediate family of the G1 Gold Cup hero Royal Rebel (GB) (Robellino). Gouache's unraced 3-year-old filly by Cloth Of Stars (Ire) is named Galaxy (Ger), while she also has a 2-year-old full-sister to the winner named Go Flying (Ire) and a yearling filly by Magna Grecia (Ire) named Grande Merci (Ire).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH QIPCO STAKES-G1, £1,250,000, Ascot, 7-27, 3yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:27.43, g/f.
1–GOLIATH (GER), 135, g, 4, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Gouache (Ger) (SW-Ger), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Guantana (Ger), by Dynaformer
3rd Dam: Guadalupe (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Baron Philip Von Ullmann; B-Gestut Schlenderhan (GER); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Christophe Soumillon. £708,875. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 9-5-2-0, $1,108,522. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bluestocking (GB), 132, f, 4, Camelot (GB)–Emulous (GB), by Dansili (GB). TDN Rising Star. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £268,750.
3–Rebel's Romance (Ire), 135, g, 6, Dubawi (Ire)–Minidress (GB), by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £134,500.
Margins: 2 1/4, 3 1/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 25.00, 4.50, 2.50.
Also Ran: Sunway (Fr), Auguste Rodin (Ire), Luxembourg (Ire), Dubai Honour (Ire), Middle Earth (GB), Hans Andersen (GB).
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