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| Staff Writer |
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Changingoftheguard had big questions to answer running so soon after the Cazoo Derby In Memory of Lester Piggott but he did so in no uncertain terms with a relentless performance to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with his 80th Royal Ascot winner.
The 3YO set a demanding pace before finishing fifth at Epsom 13 days ago and similarly, straightforward tactics were employed in the June 17 King Edward VII Stakes Gr.2 as he bounded to the front under Ryan Moore.
Supporters of the 11-10 favorite may have felt they were sitting pretty with a narrow advantage approaching the final furlong but they faced a nervous wait after Grand Alliance finished quickly despite hanging badly left to force a photo finish.
"They have to have an incredible constitution to run so quickly after a race like the Derby and you don't really know until they run, that's the acid test. He's brilliant and Ryan has been at the top of his game this week."
So too has O'Brien. Nobody among the current crop of trainers has had more Royal Ascot winners than Sir Michael Stoute on 82 but O'Brien has closed the gap to two with four winners this week and the trainer has several chances on Saturday, including Wordsworth and Alfred Munnings.
"It's refreshing to see a modest approach and his record speaks for itself," said Magnier, before adding: "It's well known and has been well discussed that sons and daughters of Galileo have that will to win and it's coming through in the likes of Changingoftheguard. The secret is already out."
Changingoftheguard was shortened to 7-1 (from 12-1) for St Leger and he could be joined by the fast-finishing runner-up Grand Alliance, who missed out by a short head at 10-1, four lengths in front of Lysander.