Racing:Kieren Fallon believes a sound pace is an important factor in the continued success of Dylan Thomas.
The four-year-old bounced back from two narrow defeats in Group One company to claim the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in emphatic style under Johnny Murtagh at Ascot.
Fallon has yet to ride the Danehill colt this term due to a drugs ban and his continued suspension from riding in Britain, but he partnered him to victory in last year's Irish Derby and Champion Stakes.
And he believes stablemate Scorpion certainly helped matters when making the early running in the mile-and-a-half feature.
He said: "He's done nothing wrong in his career and I've been very lucky with the horse.
"He was a very impressive (Irish) Derby winner and he's a joy to ride. The pace was the key to him as the last day he ran there wasn't much pace on.
"He was just doing a little bit too much and when he came there, he just emptied.
"But Johnny gave him a great ride, kicked on, and he won very impressively like a very good horse," he said.
Murtagh is also keen to underline Dylan Thomas' class, despite views from some quarters that this year's King George was a substandard affair.
"Everyone's knocking the race, saying it's not that great a race but those who didn't show up, we'll be meeting later on in the year and I think he'll show how good he is then," said Murtagh.
"They were all Group One winners bar Maraahel so I don't think you can knock the race too much.
"Maybe there weren't 20 runners and there was no Derby winner but he's a very good horse and the King George is always a very special race.
"Sometimes you don't appreciate it when it's happening for you but the opportunities are coming for me and I intend to grab them with both hands.
"They're coming thick and fast now and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season."