Al Kazeem claimed his third consecutive Group One in six weeks in a dramatic Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
While it appeared the star of Roger Charlton’s stable had once again managed to overcome the persistent front-runner Mukhadram, Al Kazeem nonetheless hung across and hampered the eventual third placegetter in the final stages earning jockey James Doyle a five-day ban.
Now the winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and this mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) all-aged decider, all roads lead to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Declaration Of War, who took the Queen Anne over a mile passed Mukhadram for second but was a comfortable two lengths adrift of Al Kazeem at the post.
“This gives me a lot of pleasure as we, and his owner John Deer, has had to wait with him,” Charlton said.
“Obviously winning the Derby with Quest For Fame was great, and we’ve had horses like Sanglamore and Cityscape, but this horse is already rated 126 and is clearly the best horse I’ve trained.
“It’s not my decision but I’d be reluctant to keep him going for the King George. He’s had three races on pretty firm ground and I think he deserves a break.
“Then we can decide whether it’s the Juddmonte International or the Irish Champion Stakes, and then yes it would be good to run in the Arc.”
Deer, a keen rugby fan, had enjoyed watching the Lions’ historic victory over Australia before the race.
“It had been a great day already,” he said. “I hope this horse turns out to be the best horse bred in Wales.”
