Belardo's Tremendous Second In Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Belardo bounced back to his best form with a staying-on second to top miler Solow in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored By QIPCO at Ascot, UK, on Saturday, October 17.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by James Doyle, broke well and soon settled in seventh of the nine-strong field.

He started to take closer order entering the final quarter-mile and ran on strongly after drifting towards the stands' rail over a furlong from home.

Belardo made relentless headway to go second with half a furlong to race and stayed on all the way to the line, going down by three quarters of a length to Solow, who recorded a fifth straight G1 victory in 1m 41.92s over the straight mile on good to soft ground.

Belardo won last year's G1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, but John Ferguson, Bloodstock Advisor to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, thinks this performance was the colt's best.

John Ferguson said: "He's not back to form - it's better than that, it's a career best.

"He's done everything right today. When he finished third in the Challenge Stakes last time, I felt sure he was a horse that could do better. To be beaten by Solow is no disgrace. I'm thrilled. He will stay in training and we'll head for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next year."

Roger Varian declared: "He's made up a good amount of ground and I'm delighted he's shown up and reminded people how good he was last year.

"The ground is important for him. He ran well in the Irish 2000 Guineas and then in the Challenge at Newmarket. I'm delighted that he has put together back-to-back performances and that he has bounced back to form like he has done.

"The horse has made a case to stay in training and we will have to speak with Sheikh Mohammed and also Prince Faisal who is involved with the horse.

"I don't think there is anything else for him this year, James thought he might even stay further because he settles.

"James Doyle added: "We lost our way with Belardo a little bit after the Irish Guineas, but he's back on track now.

"Hopefully, he can put it in in next year's Lockinge, although he is a little ground dependent - he's right to go a mile and hopefully further in time.

"They didn't go particularly quick early and he got quite strong while we were all looking for a bit of cover. At halfway, I wanted to be closer, but we didn't half quicken going down past the four-furlong marker. He looked a picture at the start and I'll have confidence in him now we're back on track."