Choisir blows away the field and the record

Australian super sprinter Choisir added the Golden Jubilee Stakes to Tuesday's Group Two King's Stand Stakes success when destroying…

Australian super sprinter Choisir added the Golden Jubilee Stakes to Tuesday's Group Two King's Stand Stakes success when destroying a high-class field of sprinters at Royal Ascot today.

In front of a huge television audience back home and in this country, the Antipodean four-year-old showed courage which matched his giant build in producing a breathtaking performance to deny Britain's leading sprinter Airwave by half a length, with Baron's Pit a further length back in third.

In doing so, Choisir smashed the 11-year-old course record time previously held by Shalford, and won a place in the hearts of British racegoers who cheered him to the echo as he returned to the winner's enclosure for the second time in a week under jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Murtagh took his mount straight into the lead in the Group One event from stall 20 and having raced down the centre of the track for the first three of the six furlongs, then steered him left towards the rail from where he powered to the line, holding off the determined challenge of Airwave.

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"I thought the other day was unbelievable but this was something special," said trainer Paul Perry.

"I thought Airwave was going to struggle to get to mine for a while, but then half a furlong out you could see her just dig in and I thought she might wear away and then pick him up. But then he seemed to have her measure.

"It was the thrill of a lifetime. I thought he had a job on from that alley (draw) but Johnny had the plan to go straight and slowly work in and it turned out super.

"Johnny jumped off and told me to leave Choisir in Britain because he's sure nothing in Europe will beat him.

"That victory has sure squared it up for us after losing the rugby to England this morning!"

Murtagh was confident he could land the unique double providing he got away from the stalls quickly.

"From the 20 stall I knew I had to jump out and let him drift," the Irishman said. "He has so much speed and I was sure a furlong and a half out that nothing would catch us, not even Airwave.

"Choisir is a big, strong tank of a horse. He's tough and genuine and loves this fast ground, and what's more he's more relaxed than on Tuesday."

Airwave set off the 11-8 favourite but there were no complaints from her connections.

"We were beaten by a better horse," trainer Henry Candy admitted. "There were no problems and no excuses. The winner just pulled out a bit more he's tough.

"She'll go for the July Cup now and then probably run over both five and six furlongs."

Airwave's jockey Dane O'Neill added: "I can't complain and knew at halfway I would have to take him on."

Baron's Pit produced a super effort to finish third at 50-1 and delighted trainer Richard Hannon.

"He's a Group Three winner who won the Norfolk Stakes last year," reminded Hannon.

"I think he'll be a lovely horse next season. He ran well and it looks like we probably should have gone for the Jersey Stakes."