King George VI & Queen Elizabeth – Royal Central - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
There were emotional scenes at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday after Hukum won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes – the flagship race of the summer flat season.
Billed as being a race for the ages, the Princess Royal presented the prize to the winning connections of Hukum.
Her Royal Highness presented the large trophy to winning owner, Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, trainer Owen Burrows, and jockey Jim Crowley.
Hukum’s success in the race is made even more remarkable due to an injury he suffered in 2022 when he fractured a cannon bone just below the knee.
It was widely expected at the time that this would be a career ending injury. However, trainer Owen Burrows has nursed the horse back to full health for him to win the £1.25m contest.
Stable staff were in tears as the horse they looked after won a race that will go down in history as one of the great races to savour.
The 2023 running of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes was billed in advance as being a race for the ages.
Ten horses took part, including Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin, Irish Derby winner Westover, Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn, Belmont Derby winner Bolshoi Ballet, and the winner of the 2022 King George VI Stakes, Pyledriver.
In the closing stages of the race, Hukum and Westover were locked in battle, with the victor winning by just a head.