Adayar back in business with G1 Champion Stakes second

Adayar returned to the level of form that yielded victories in last season’s Derby and King George as he went down by half a length to Bay Bridge in the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot, UK, on Saturday, 15 October.

The Frankel homebred, who had finished fifth in the 10-furlong showpiece 12 months earlier, was forced to miss the majority of this season with a minor setback before a winning reappearance in a Doncaster conditions race in September.

Held up in fifth by William Buick, Adayar made a bold move around the field turning for home and loomed up to dispute the running with Bay Bridge and My Prospero over two furlongs out.

Bay Bridge established a narrow advantage over Adayar shortly after as the two four-year-olds went clear. Adayar fought gamely but could not get on terms with Bay Bridge in the final strides, with My Prospero rallying strongly in third, one place ahead of Baaeed.

Charlie Appleby said: “I’m delighted with Adayar and we know he is back at the top table again. It’s always in the back of your mind when you’ve won a conditions race, but he is where he was when he left off last year.

“William [Buick] said they didn’t go quite as strong a gallop as you would like, but he made his commitment when he did – that was always the plan and he stuck to his guns well. We were beaten by a horse that we know has always had plenty of potential and has been waiting for the ground.”