King George history for Sir Michael

Sir Michael Stoute became the winningmost trainer in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes history at Ascot this afternoon thanks to Poet's Word.

Newmarket-based Stoute first triumphed in the Group 1 race 37 years ago with Shergar, followed by Opera House (1993), Golan (2002), Conduit (2009) and Harbinger (2010).

Those triumphs left him level on five winners alongside fellow HQ trainer Saeed bin Suroor and Dick Hern, but he now stands alone on six after the son of Poet's Voice got the better of stable-mate Crystal Ocean in the mile-and-a-half-long feature.

There was a neck between Stoute's duo come the end, with the James Doyle-ridden Poet's Word making up three lengths on 6/4 favourite Crystal Ocean with William Buick in the saddle.

The win came just a matter of weeks after Doyle rode the five-year-old to victory in the Prince of Wales' Stakes over 10 furlongs at the same track.

Poet's Word has now been installed as a 6/1 shot for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, while Crystal Ocean can be backed at 7/1.