Derby winner fails to match surprise speed of stablemate

Olivier Peslier looked to be going best as he sat in fourth place as they turned into the straight in the Group One contest, and the response was electrifying when he asked for an effort.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt (4-1) brushed Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco and Workforce aside as he powered an amazing 11 lengths clear, with Cape Blanco finishing second and Youmzain third.

Sent off the 8-11 favourite, Workforce was only fifth - beating just his pacemaker Confront.

Harbinger was winning in course-record time and William Hill slashed the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned four-year-old to even-money favourite from 8-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

Peslier said: "You can imagine how I felt in the last furlong when I saw the big screen and I could see the others so far behind.

"The horse today is the king, he is a wonderful horse.

"I knew he was very good, but today he was flying and won so well - he's very good.

"He travelled the way I wanted and he kept going, I didn't have to ask him anything.

"He was just flying. He is a champion."

Stoute, winning his fifth King George, added: "Olivier was just cantering, he travelled so well and he was looking good from a long way out.

"He was a decent three-year-old and was impressive in winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

"He was developing into a nice horse and then he had a blip in the Voltigeur, but he bounced back well in the John Porter this season and has gone on from there.

"He has a great mind, he's very good mentally, which helps you to develop him. It was a superb performance.

"We'll take him home and see where we are.

"I always said we'd think about his autumn programme and work back from there. We'll consider the Arc."

On being told he was evens for the Arc, a race Stoute has yet to win, the trainer smiled: "Even-money is he? What a joke."

Stoute said of Workforce: "Ryan (Moore) said he just didn't switch off like he normally does and the ground was quick enough, it's pretty fast out there.

"He'll bounce back, he's a young horse and that was only his fourth race. He'll grow up and get tougher. I wouldn't write him off."

Aidan O'Brien said of Cape Blanco: "We're delighted with him, he ran a great race.

"Everyone wanted to see the two Derby winners running, they went together and there were two very good horses in third and fourth (Daryakana).

"They went a solid gallop and it was a great performance by the winner.

"We wouldn't mind stepping back a bit (in distance) with him now. He could go to York, but we'll have to see."

Mick Channon said of Youmzain: "It was another great race, especially on that ground. The winner was very impressive - no crystal ball would have seen that happening.

"We'll probably go straight for the Arc now."

Alain de Royer-Dupre said of the filly Daryakana: "She was very close to Youmzain on form in France so it was a satisfactory performance.

"I don't know where we will run now."