Galileo takes King George

Galileo proved himself to be a true champion with a battling performance to land a thrilling King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot today.

For the first time in his career Galileo found himself in a fight as last year`s Emirates world champion Fantastic Light laid down the gaunlet a furlong from home.

However, fight he did and when asked the question by jockey Michael Kinane the Sadler`s Wells gelding, sent off the 1-2 favourite, provided a positive answer by pulling away to score by two lengths.

Kinane was content to sit off the pace on the dual Derby winner as the early running was cut out by Godolphin pacemaker Give The Slip with Mutamam in close attendance.

As the 12-strong field entered the straight, the former champion jockey, who was only confirmed as the big-race jockey following a court injunction against suspension yesterday, took Galileo to the head of affairs and as at Epsom and the Curragh the colt showed instant acceleration.

However, this was not a field of three-year-olds in opposition and Frankie Dettori quickly brought Fantastic Light (7-2) alongside, indeed for a few strides the partnership gained the ascendancy.

But it was only for a few strides and when Kinane requested a second effort from Galileo it was immediately forthcoming and he ran on to keep his unbeaten record intact.

Fast-finishing Hightori (22-1), who met interference in the straight was a further length back in third.

Galileo`s trainer Aidan O`Brien has insisted that his charge is a better horse over a mile and a quarter but admitted he was happy to admit that he might have been wrong.

'Michael said he (Galileo) was flapping,' said O`Brien. 'That is a sign that the horse was going well.

'In the two Derbies, our horse has accelerated at the two post and been able to ease down near the line. This time Fantastic Light has come alongside and Michael has had to ask him again.

'To be honest when he got to him I thought we might be in trouble but Michael said that when he picked him up he just went readily away again. I did not think he could do it but he has proved me wrong.

'He is a serious horse. Michael said that he was always travelling very well through the race and that he was always very happy with him.

'To show that kind of courage and the way he went on that ground makes him exceptional.

'He has so much tactical speed that Michael was able to take all the gaps he wanted and he wasn`t a tired horse.'

Kinane, who spent yesterday battling to beat the suspension given to him nine days by earlier the Curragh stewards which could have ruled him out of the Stg£750,000 affair, felt that his exhaustive efforts had been justified.

'It has been a stressful ten days,' he said. 'I had to make every effort to be here.

'This is without doubt the best racehorse I`ve ever ridden. He really has everything.

'He was almost idling when he hit the front but then the other horsre came at him and he really went for it then. Fantastic Light was certainly upsides me for a stride or two but when I asked my fellow he just went away.'

Part-owner, Michael Tabor, added: 'This horse has everything. He has the pedigree, the confirmation and he has proved it on the track. He just has everything.'

There were no complaints about the result from the connections of the runner-up.

Sheikh Mohammed, the driving force behind Godolphin, who own Fantastic Light, admitted that the better horse had won.

'We all want to find out who is the best horse,' he said.

'I will always go for such races. He (Galileo) is a good horse - he proved it today - before we did not know.

'Fantastic Light is also a good horse and we have no excuses - he was well, fit and happy.'

However, the unlucky horse in the race looked to be third-placed Hightori.

Last year`s Arc fifth was checked on the rails in the straight and flew at the finish to get third spot.

'I will go and watch a re-run but from what I saw he looked as if he should have come down the outside,' said Andy Smith, racing manager to owner Gary Tanaka.

'The horse got completely blocked and the jockey almost fell off. When he got through he was full of running.

'We made up a couple of lengths on Fantastic Light on their form here last time and I think we were the moral second.'

The Ireland the Food Island Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 8th will be the next port of call for Galileo, followed by the Breeders` Cup Classic at Belmont Park two months later.