Distance runner gets up late for thrilling King George V win

Going The Distance came from the clouds to grab victory in a thrilling renewal of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A field of 19 runners went to post for the mile-and-a-half contest, with much of the pre-race focus on Gilded Water, who was the 5-1 favourite to provide trainer William Haggas, jockey Tom Marquand and the King and Queen with back-to-back victories following Desert Hero’s memorable success 12 months ago.

Going The Distance, who won his last two starts of last season and his first of this, was a 9-1 shot for Ralph Beckett and had only Neski Sherelski behind him rounding the home turn.

Both horses made up from hand over fist in the straight and it was Going The Distance who finished just the best down the outside of runners to beat Neski Sherelski by half a length in the hands of Rossa Ryan. Gilded Water was a well-beaten 12th.

Winning owner  Marc Chan said: “We have won in Ascot before, but Royal Ascot is such a difficult meeting to win at and I’m over the moon about this. This is right up there with my best achievements as an owner.”

Chan’s good friend is a certain Frankie Dettori, absent from the saddle this week having said farewell to Britain on Champions Day.

He said:  “Marc is a good friend of mine, we have just had lunch together and I said I would come to the paddock to support him.

“What a nice man he is and I had so much success for him. Unfortunately I could not win for him at Royal Ascot, but I’m so delighted for him, he’s put so much into the sport.

“I wish my saddle was here all week, but I can’t go back on what I said. I’ve tried to enjoy it and it has been hard work to be honest with you because I’m not used to the eating and drinking and the socialising and pictures and photographs. Everyone has been so kind, but it has been great.”

Beckett admitted the winner had been something of a long-term project.

“This was a bit of a plot, when he won around Kempton in April I think he was our only winner in April. He got four or five pounds for winning there and it just fitted like a glove,” he said.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does next, he’s certainly bred to get a bit further and I wouldn’t mind thinking of that as well. We’ll enjoy today, today was the plan.”