A last start winner of the Group I Epsom Derby, Godolphin’s homebred Frankel colt Adayar scored another big win overnight taking out the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m 4f) at the expense of race favourite Love.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Adayar was dominant to the line winning by a length and three-quarters over Mishriff with Love in third place.
"I
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t's been 20 years since the great Galileo did the double and Adayar deserves all the plaudits," Appleby said."He was a good Derby winner and we were confident today. When the bell rang turning for home he just put himself in the firing line and galloped powerfully to the line."
Adayar has the overall record of three wins and two seconds from six starts, but is not the only star three year-old colt in the stable by Frankel as Godolphin also have Hurricane Lane.
The pair ran first and third in the Epsom Derby, but have been on different paths since then, although may come back together for another face off the Arc later in the year..
"It's one of my usual cliches but we'll have the conversation," said Appleby. "If you pressed me for an answer now, I'd say he'll (Adayar) go for the Arc, possibly with a prep run in the Prix Niel in September, while Hurricane Lane will head towards the St Leger and possibly the Arc."
Adayar is the first winner for Group III winning Dubawi mare Anna Salai, a sibling to stakes-winners Iguazu Falls and Advice as well as to the dam of Group I winner National Defense (IRE), who shuttles to Widden Stud Victoria this spring.
This female family has achieved notable success in Australia for Godolphin producing their Group I colts and sires Epaulette and Helmet.
Adayar is the third stakes-winner from 15 runners for Frankel out of Dubawi mares and the second Group I winner bred this way joining Dream Castle.
Frankel is enjoying phenomenal success in 2021 siring 20 stakes-winners in both hemispheres since January 1 headed by five Group I winners – Adayar, Hurricane Lane, Snow Lantern and the Australian bred pair of Hungry Heart and Converge.
