King George VI Stakes ReportJohn Oxx plans to drop Alamshar back in trip following the colt's superb victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.
His improving three-year-old, winner of the Irish Derby last time, proved far too good for some top-class rivals in the midsummer showpiece, as he left Sulamani and his Epsom conqueror Kris Kin in his wake.
"It's right that he should be improving. He is a three-year-old and that's what they should be doing at this time of the year," said Oxx.
"For me, it was a 'no worries' race. Okay, I was a bit worried about the rain, but I was happy enough with the ground.
"I think the plan is to go for the (Irish) Champion Stakes at Leopardstown now in six weeks. With the speed he showed there, dropping back in trip by two furlongs shouldn't be a problem.
"With such a high-quality field you couldn't have expected him to win as easily as he did. But when I saw him so far in front, I knew he would keep going.
"The pace wasn't great but Johnny (Murtagh) had him in just the right place."
Murtagh was able to surge into a decisive lead at just the right time by sitting so close to a curiously slow early pace.
From the moment Alamshar was kicked into the lead at the two-furlong pole, the result never looked in doubt.
As Nayef and Leadership, who had both looked live dangers on the turn, flattened out of contention, it was Sulamani and Frankie Dettori who came to throw down the most serious challenge.
However, the 13 to 2 winner wasn't stopping and galloped all the way to the line to win by three and a half lengths.
Understandably, Alamshar leapt to the forefront of the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - the end-of-season Longchamp showpiece in which many of the vanquished at Ascot could seek revenge.
Alamshar received a glowing assessment yesterday from senior handicapper Nigel Gray.
"We had a really top-class field with 10 of the 12 horses rated 118 or more, and I felt Alamshar really stamped his authority on the race," Gray said. "Working through Sulamani, Bollin Eric and Kris Kin, it brings Alamshar out at 131. I think he's a very, very good horse."
