Dazzling Dylan Lights Up Ascot

Dylan Thomas silenced the doubters when putting in a stunning performance at Ascot to turn an average-looking King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes into a glittering renewal.

The absence of any member of the Classic generation and a field of just seven runners had many sounding the death knell for the all-age midsummer showpiece.

But last year's Irish Derby winner relished the step back up to a mile and a half and stamped his class on the £750,000 event with a power-packed four-length victory over Youmzain.

Group One bridesmaid Maraahel finished a further three and a half lengths back in third.

Johnny Murtagh bided his time aboard the Aidan O'Brien-trained Dylan Thomas, sent off the 5-4 favourite, as his stablemate Scorpion, the former St Leger winner, made the running under Mick Kinane.

The in-form Murtagh moved his mount up menacingly entering the straight and easily put the race to bed when thundering into the lead over a furlong from home.

Galileo provided O'Brien with his first King George success in 2001, and after tasting victory for the second time, he said: 'This is a proper horse and he had been working well at home.

'Mick said he was happy to go on if nothing else did as Scorpion does stay. Dylan Thomas likes to be dropped in and take his time, so the race worked out perfectly.

'Because his stride is so long it takes him a bit of time to get into top gear. He looked like he was doing plenty today, but when he got into the straight he found another gear.

'He gets a fast-run mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.'

Responding to the criticism the race had received during the build-up, O'Brien commented: 'The King George is always a great race and it is only as good as the media make it out to be.

'I am not into hyping horses and everyone can make their own opinion, but he is a serious horse.'

The four-year-old had been a possible runner in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last year but had to sidestep that due to the presence of the Coolmore-owned Hurricane Run.

However, with that horse now retired, O'Brien is eyeing a trip to Longchamp in October with Dylan Thomas, who is now 5-1 with Coral behind the 7-2 favourite Authorized.

Blue Square are the same price, with Stan James, Ladbrokes and William Hill offering 6s.

O'Brien continued: 'We were hoping to run in the Arc last year, but we had to stand back. Hopefully we won't have to stand back this year.

'It will depend on what happens with the others, but all the big mile and quarter and mile and a half races are open to him.'

Murtagh, also winning the race for a second time after Alamshar struck in 2003, said: 'When I pulled him out he wanted to go, and I just let him go. He has a great turn of foot.

'He travelled well all the way round and won very impressively.

'Manduro got the better of him over a mile and a quarter here last time, but I wouldn't have minded having him there today.

'Everyone was knocking the race, saying it's not that great a race, but those who didn't show up today we'll be meeting later on in the year and I think he'll show how good he is then.'

Part-owner Michael Tabor added: 'You can always compare every year and perhaps say this year isn't as good as last, but you can only beat what is in front of you.

'It might not have been as good as previous years, but it was a very good race in my opinion and we are happy to win.'

Mick Channon was delighted with Youmzain's effort and said: 'He's run some terrific races now and he will go for the Arc as far as I'm concerned.

'He's got the world in front of him and we can also think about Hong Kong and the Breeders' Cup.'

Paddy Power quote Youmzain as a 33-1 chance for glory in Paris.

Angus Gold, racing manager for the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Maraahel, said: 'We can drop him back to a mile and a quarter if we want and we would like to win a Group One somewhere with him, but we might have to travel abroad for it.'

(C) PA Sport