Hukum edges Westover in King George VI and Queen Elizbeth Stakes

Six-year-old Hukum beat the 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown in his May 25 comeback start following nearly a year’s layoff, and on Saturday, in a thrilling renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizbeth Stakes, he nipped the 2022 Derby third-place finisher Westover.

Westover traveled strongly and wide from mid-pack for much of the 1 1/2-mile contest at Ascot Racecourse, making the lead in midstretch, but Hukum and jockey Jim Crowley had followed Westover and Rob Hornby, drawing alongside with about a quarter-mile to run, pushing past at about the furlong grounds, and getting home by a head over a brave Westover.

King of Steel, runner-up in the 2023 Derby, got a great inside trip and had a chance with two furlongs left to race, but could not finish with the top two despite getting an 11-pound weight-for-age break from the two older rivals.

King of Steel, racing over a good-to-soft course that might have had more give to it than ideal for him, was third, 4 1/2 lengths behind Westover but more than three lengths clear of fourth-place Luxembourg and a mile in front of race favorite and 2023 Derby winner Auguste Rodin. Something clearly went amiss with Auguste Rodin, who was out of contention halfway through the contest and was eased across the finish by jockey Ryan Moore. The high-class 4-year-old filly Emily Upjohn also disappointed, never reaching contention and checking in seventh.

The King George is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series, offering the winner automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf and travel expenses to Santa Anita.

Hukum, by Sea the Stars out of Aghareed, by Kingmambo, is a Shadwell Estate Company homebred best known for much of his career as the older brother of the brilliant miler Baaeed. A Group 3 type through his 4-year-old season, Hukum stepped up to win his first Group 1 in June 2022 when he easily won the 1 1/2-mile Coronation Cup at Ascot.

Hukum didn’t start again for just less than one year, and connections considered retiring the horse, but he looked as good as ever taking down Desert Crown in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard in late May. Trainer Owen Burroughs, who proclaimed Saturday the pinnacle of his career, had Hukum ready for his return race and even more ready for his major midsummer goal.

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