King Edward VII Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 17:35
£250,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 3f 233y, Class 1   
Friday 20th June 2025

1 Amiloc 11/8F
2 Zahrann 11/4
3 Galveston 20/1
9 ran NR: Convergent, Puppet Master
Distances: ¾l, 2¼l, ½l Time: 2m 28.67s (fast by 1.03s)

Five out of five and still with gears to spare — Amiloc  maintained his flawless record in gritty style as he outbattled the Irish challenger Zahrann, extending the winning run for Ralph Beckett and rider Rossa Ryan.

The son of Postponed — absent from the Derby due to being gelded — had looked a cut above when strolling home in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood. But this was a very different test: firmer ground, deeper company, and a dogfight to the line.

Ridden with intent by Ryan, Amiloc always had his sights on the pace. He moved to the lead past the two-furlong pole, brushing aside long-time leader Galveston, but had to dig in late as Zahrann loomed large on his outside. It was tight, but Amiloc found more — pulling out that extra effort to hold by three-quarters of a length. Galveston boxed on gamely for third, two and a quarter lengths back.

“It’s quick ground out there and you could see his stride shortening,” said Beckett. “He wasn’t easing down — he was feeling it. We had a lot of chat about whether to run, but Patrick Cooper and the Aykroyds were keen, and we were rewarded.”

That’s five straight for Amiloc, and Beckett didn’t hide his admiration. “He’s the first I’ve trained to do that. Rossa was confident, the horse is confident, and even though the ground wasn't ideal, he got the job done.”

Where next? The trainer was non-committal but hinted the King George could come into play — ground permitting. “He’s in everything. But today looked a hard race. If it came up soft next month, you’d have to think about it.”

Ryan echoed the concerns about conditions: “I was never really happy with him on that ground — he moved okay early, but out of Swinley Bottom I could feel it. He just kept finding. When he changed leads and came alive, I thought, right, I’ve got Ryan Moore and now Ben [Coen] is going to have to get past me. And he couldn’t.”

There was admiration too from Zahrann’s trainer Johnny Murtagh, even in narrow defeat. “He lost nothing in running second. He just came off the bridle a bit earlier than we’d like, and maybe a touch more ease would help.”

Murtagh, himself no stranger to riding winners at this meeting, wore the frustration of coming close. “You know how hard it is to win here. We brought a horse we really believe in — and still do. He just bumped into one.”

Could Zahrann be an Arc horse? “You’d like to think so,” said Murtagh, cautiously. “We’ll let him recover. He’s come a long way in a short time, but he’s earned a rest and we’ll dream a bit after that.”

King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
£250,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 3f 211y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Firm

NO. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 (6)    Amiloc 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 11/8F
2 (11) ¾ Zahrann 3 9-2 J P Murtagh Ben Coen 11/4
3 (4) 2¼ Galveston 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 20/1
4 (3) ½ Wimbledon Hawkeye 3 9-2 James Owen Silvestre De Sousa 10/1
5 (10) ½ Green Storm 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston Billy Loughnane 11/1
6 (2) 5½ Nightwalker 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Colin Keane 10/1
7 (8) 3 Regal Ulixes 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 16/1
8 (1) 18 Minhad 3 9-2 Ismail Mohammed Tom Marquand 40/1
9 (5) 20 Opportunity 3 9-2 William Haggas James Doyle 12/1
NR 2 (9) Convergent 3 9-2 K R Burke NON RUNNER
NR 8 (7) Puppet Master 3 9-2 A P O'Brien NON RUNNER

SureWIn

KING EDWARD VII STAKES WINNERS

YR/DATE GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2024 2 CALANDAGAN Francis-Henri Graffard FRStephane Pasquier Aga Khan IV 3-9-02 11/2
2023 2 KING OF STEEL Roger Varian Kevin Stott Amo Racing Limited 3 9-02 11/10F
2022 2 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD Aidan O'Brien IRE Ryan Moore Westerberg, S Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith 3-9-02 11/10F
2021 2 ALENQUER William Haggas Tom Marquand M M Stables 3 9-00 13/8F
2020 2 PYLEDRIVER William Muir Martin Dwyer Knox & Wells Limited and R Devlin 3-9-00 18/1
2019 2 JAPAN Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-9-00 6/4F
2018 2 OLD PERSIAN Charlie Appleby William Buick Godolphin 3-9-00 9/2
2017 2 PERMIAN Mark Johnston William Buick Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-9-00 6/1
2016 2 ACROSS THE STARS Sir Michael Stoute Frankie Dettori Saeed Suhail 3-9-00 7/1
2015 2 BALIOS David Simcock Jamie Spencer Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd 3-9-00 3/1
2014 2 EAGLE TOP John Gosden William Buick Lady Bamford 3-9-00 12/1
2013 2 HILLSTAR Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore Sir Evelyn De Rothschild 3-8-12 15/2
2012 2 THOMAS CHIPPENDALE Sir Henry Cecil Johnny Murtagh Sir Robert Ogden 3-8-12 9/2
2011 2 NATHANIEL John Gosden William Buick Lady Rothschild 3-8-12 11/4F
2010 2 MONTEROSSO Mark Johnston Frankie Dettori Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum 3-8-12 7/2
2009 2 FATHER TIME Henry Cecil Eddie Ahern Khalid Abdullah 3-8-12 9/1
2008 2 CAMPANOLOGIST Saeed Bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-12 9/1
2007 2 BOSCOBEL Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-12 7/1
06/23/06 2 PAPAL BULL Sir Michael Stoute Kieren Fallon Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor 3-8-12 5/4F
*05/17/06 2 PLEA BARGAIN John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-11 9/2
04/18/06 2 FIVE DYNASTIES Aidan O’Brien IRE Jamie Spencer Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 3-8-11 11/4F
03/20/06 2 HIGH ACCOLADE Marcus Tregoning Martin Dwyer Lady Tennant 3-8-11 5/2F
02/21/06 2 BALAKHERI Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 3-8-10 11/4F
01/22/06 2 STORMING HOME Barry Hills Michael Hills Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-08 9/2
00/23/06 2 SUBTLE POWER Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Thoroughbred Corporation 3-8-08 7/4F
99/18/06 2 MUTAFAWEQ Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 3-8-08 4/1F
98/19/06 2 ROYAL ANTHEM Henry Cecil Kieren Fallon Thoroughbred Corporation 3-8-08 9/4F
97/20/06 2 KINGFISHER MILL Julie Cecil Pat Eddery Lord Howard de Walden 3-8-08 9/4F
96/21/06 2 AMFORTAS Clive Brittain Brett Doyle Brian Voak 3-8-08 66/1
95/23/06 2 PENTIRE Geoff Wragg Michael Hills Mollers Racing 3-8-08 4/1
94/14/06 2 FOYER Michael Stoute Michael Kinane Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-08 7/2
93/15/06 2 BENEFICIAL Geoff Wragg Michael Hills Exors of late Sir Robin McAlpine 3-8-08 11/4F
92/16/06 2 BEYTON Richard Hannon snr Michael Kinane David Cock 3-8-08 12/1
91/18/06 2 SADDLERS’ HALL Michael Stoute Lester Piggott Lord Weinstock 3-8-08 7/1
90/19/06 2 PRIVATE TENDER Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Cliveden Stud 3-8-08 11/4F
89/20/06 2 CACOETHES Guy Harwood Pat Eddery Lady Harrison 3-8-08 8/13F
88/14/06 2 SHERIFF’S STAR Lady Herries Tony Ives Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk 3-8-08 9/2
87/16/06 2 LOVE THE GROOM John Dunlop Pat Eddery Mrs V Gaucci del Bono 3-8-08 7/1
86/17/06 2 BONHOMIE Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-08 9/4F
85/20/06 2 LANFRANCO Henry Cecil Steve Cauthen Charles St George 3-8-06 13/8F
84/21/06 2 HEAD FOR HEIGHTS Dick Hern Willie Carson Sheikh Mohammed 3-8-06 5/1
83/16/06 2 SHAREEF DANCER Michael Stoute Walter Swinburn Maktoum Al Maktoum 3-8-06 10/1
82/17/06 2 OPEN DAY Dick Hern Willie Carson Sir Michael Sobell 3-8-06 9/1
81/18/06 2 BUSTOMI Dick Hern Willie Carson Lady Beaverbrook 3-8-06 13/2
80/19/06 2 LIGHT CAVALRY Henry Cecil Joe Mercer Jim Joel 3-8-06 9/2
79/21/06 2 ELA-MANA-MOU Guy Harwood Greville Starkey Mrs Andry Muinos 3-8-06 11/10F
78/22/06 2 ILE DE BOURBON Fulke Johnson Houghton John Reid David McCall 3-8-06 11/1
77/16/06 2 CLASSIC EXAMPLE Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery Col Roger Hue-Williams 3-8-10 14/1
*run at York

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