Runner-up in last
season's Group I English and Irish Champion Stakes, as well as the Group I Sheema
Classic earlier this year, the Sir Michael Stoute trained son of Poet's Voice warmed
up for this with a workmanlike win in the Group II Brigadier Gerard Stakes at
Sandown and showed deal of improvement from that run to land his first race at
the top level.Ridden by James Doyle, Poet's Word proved much the better in the run to the line beating Cracksman by two and a quarter lengths with Godolphin runner Hawkbill in third.
"Cracksman beat Poet's Word a long way here last time (Champion Stakes). Maybe Cracksman is not at his very best now but we have beaten the others comprehensively," Stoute said.
"Poet's Word is a very consistent, brave, sound horse. That's what he is. A huge well done to all the staff because they have put a lot of work into a horse like this.
"I was delighted for Poet's Word. He's been in at the deep-end in Group 1s and has been running well in them, so it's great for him to win one.
"I think Royal Ascot is very special to any trainer. We have been very lucky in that we have brought a lot of nice horses here over the years.
"We're very glad it's happened and it's great for all the staff."
Bought for 300,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Book Two Sale, Poet's Word runs for Saeed Suhail and has the overall record of six wins and six placigns from 15 starts. A half-brother to Group III winner Malabar, he is the best of five winners from stakes-placed Whirly Bird.
Poet's Word is the first Group I winner for Darley's Dubawi stallion Poet's Voice, who shuttled to Australia for five seasons with Group II winner Viridine his best Australian bred offspring. He died earlier this year at age 11.
