Equiano takes King's Stand

Equiano scorched home in the King's Stand Stakes for a second time by making virtually all the running in the Royal Ascot sprint.

Successful in 2008 when trained in Spain and now with Barry Hills, the five-year-old stumbled coming out of the stalls but quickly recovered.

Michael Hills soon had his mount in the lead and had all his rivals at full stretch.

Despite drifting towards the centre of the course from his stall two draw, Equiano (9-2) kept on strongly to run the five furlongs in 59 seconds.

He went on to score by a length and a half from Markab (14-1) with Borderlescott (16-1) a neck away third.

The winning trainer said: "It's taken a long time for me to win the King's Stand, I've got to say.

"He's a very fast horse. He fell out of the stalls because he's so quick. He was always going to win today because he was in such good form.

"I was in hospital last year, so it's nice to be back here today.

"His old trainer did a very good job with him. He's been in such good form this season, but he was sick last year."

Hills junior added: "The horse has been in such great form all year, but today he was so quick coming out of the gates he just stumbled.

"When he got on his legs it was like somebody had set fire to him - he was off.

"It was difficult to stay on at the start, but when a race is worth that kind of money you have to hang on for dear life.

"This meeting is made of dreams. That's the first dream for me so know I'll try and get another one."

Henry Candy was thrilled with Markab, saying: "Brilliant, wasn't it? "He's a proper Group One beastie now. The Prix Maurice de Gheest can be a funny sort of race and we might give that a try.

"Amour Propre finished his race off nicely too. He needs to go up a furlong and down a grade, he's just not big enough to take on these Group One sprinters."

Robin Bastiman said of Borderlescott: "The draw didn't help, but he's just getting better and better this season. He still wants to do his best, and as we all know, the Nunthorpe is his race."

David Hayes said of Australian challenger Nicconi, who finished fourth: "He missed the start and was behind horses.

"We thought he could still win, but he just didn't travel that well through the race.

"He ran like he wanted six or seven furlongs really, but it wasn't a disastrous performance.

"We will sleep on it, but we'll probably retire him now, as he's a very valuable stallion prospect."