Dylan Thomas is different class
29th July 2007
The Racing Post’s headline stated simply "Different Class" and few would argue with that assessment as Danehill’s son Dylan Thomas (4c Danehill-Lagrion by Diesis) powered away with the 57th running of Saturday’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot as easily as any of his 56 predecessors.
Victory for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Dylan Thomas was, of course, no great surprise. He was sent off 5/4 favourite and came to Ascot with three previous G1 wins to his name, including when taking the G1 Irish Derby by three and a half lengths and when defeating Ouija Board to take last season’s G1 Irish Champion Stakes.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh always had his mount well-positioned as stablemate Scorpion set a solid pace and - less than a quarter of a mile from home - Dylan Thomas was eased out and swiftly passed his rivals to score by four lengths.
"He’s a proper horse and we’ve always thought he was brilliant," said O’Brien. "He likes an evenly-run mile and a quarter and this is only his second time at a mile and a half."
Dylan Thomas is quoted by bookmakers at odds as short as 5/1 for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and O’Brien continued: "He’s got a lot of class and gets a mile and a half well so all those sort of races are open to him. Today was his big one for the middle of the summer. I am not into hyping horses and everyone can make their own opinion, but he is a serious horse."
Murtagh added: "It was always going according to plan. I followed Richard Hills (on Maraahel) and when I eased out and let him go he won very impressively. I looked up at the big screen, which is great to have, to see how far ahead I was - it was nice and easy in the last furlong once I’d looked up!
"I think whatever the pace today he would have won easily and I think he would also have been a good winner over a mile and a quarter. He’s a horse who loves to travel. He’s a very special horse and the King George is a very special race."
Senior British Horseracing Board handicapper Phil Smith was among those impressed by Dylan Thomas's performance.
"He won comfortably in a truly-run race and treated everything that was put before him with disdain," said Smith. "As a King George winner he is well up to standard, which is a very high standard indeed."
