Derby winner Adayar limbering up for King George challenge William Buick is savouring the challenge as Derby hero Adayar prepares to tackle older horses for the first time in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt sprang a 16-1 surprise as he powered home by four and a half lengths at Epsom in June, with third-placed stablemate Hurricane Lane having subsequently boosted the form significantly by bagging both the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. Adayar is now set to cross swords with Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver in Berkshire, while Aidan O’Brien’s superstar filly Love, winner of last year’s 1000 Guineas and Oaks, is another possible rival. Buick told Sky Sports Racing: “Adayar was very good in the Derby. “He was an emphatic Derby winner and he looks great. “This is a different test for him taking on older horses for the first time but the team are very happy with him and we’re looking forward to it. “We’ll find out (if there’s any more progression). He certainly looks like he has physically got stronger and natural progression would suggest that he will improve. “We’ll have to wait and see and hope, but he’s already a brilliant Derby winner so as long as he can stay at that level, that’s a pretty good level.”
