Secret State sneaks up the inside and battles on to land King George under Buick

Secret State battled to win the King George under William Buick

Edward Whitaker

Thursday: King George V Handicap, Royal Ascot

Secret State completed a hat-trick in the King George V Handicap to give William Buick his third winner of the week at Royal Ascot.

The 4-1 favourite colt battled on strongly to hold off Deauville Legend (14-1) on his handicap debut.

“He was in front half a furlong too soon but he battled on really well,” said the jockey, who won Group 1 prizes on Coroebus and Saffron Beach earlier in the week. “Once he could feel them coming he went on again.”

Paying tribute to trainer Charlie Appleby, he said: “It was a great plan by Charlie. This horse has had three runs and got into the race today. Well done to everyone.”

Israr took third at 11-2, ahead of Savvy Knight (18-1) in fourth.

Buick is now level with Danny Tudhope in the race to be top jockey at the meeting and said: “It’s great to ride winners at this meeting.

“I’ve got some good rides, I’ll keep the focus, keep trying to do the right things and hopefully everything else comes.”

The winner is out of Jacqueline Quest, who was demoted after passing the post first in the 1,000 Guineas in 2010, and could have Classic pretensions himself as he earned a quote of 14-1 for the St Leger from Betfair.  

Read this next:

The Ridler survives inquiry to spring huge 50-1 shock for Fahey and Hanagan

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.

FIRST PUBLISHED 3:19PM, JUN 16 2022