Harbinger hammers Ascot rivals by 11 lengths

Whatever else Harbinger does in his career, an 11-length demolition of a quality field in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot will forever be etched in the annals of Turf history.

Those turning up at the Berkshire venue daring to expect such a performance from one of the six runners would surely have been thinking it would come from the winner's stablemate, Workforce. But despite being sent off the 8-11 favourite the Epsom Derby hero beat just one home in fifth - and that was his pacemaker Confront.

The result was never in doubt and as soon as Olivier Peslier pressed the button a couple of furlongs out, the response was immediate and Harbinger went further and further clear.

Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco kept going for a distant second, but Workforce was left toiling as Harbinger blitzed the field in course-record time.

William Hill slashed the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned Harbinger to even-money favourite from 8-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.

Sir Michael 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 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 said: "Even-money is he? What a joke."

Soraaya eclipsed Margot Did in the Princess Margaret Abu Dhabi Stakes, with Youmzain third. Winning owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum also took the Jaguar XK Winkfield Stakes with his Michael Jarvis-trained Toolain.