Kevin Darley showed why he is leading the jockeys` championship race when producing 14-1 chance Observatory with slide-rule precision to deny Giant`s Causeway a sixth successive Group One victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot today.
Tactical discussions between Darley and winning trainer John Gosden prior to the Group One mile event produced a consensus that the jockey should produce his mount late and wide to give Giant`s Causeway as little chance as possible to fight back.
The plan worked a treat with Observatory flying down the centre of the track to catch the 11-10 favourite on the far rail and leave him with little chance to react.
Giant`s Causeway had always been up close to the pace and headed the field as they turned for home into Ascot`s short straight.
With most of his rivals toiling behind as he passed the furlong pole, a famous success looked on the cards but Darley had other ideas and brought his mount to the head of affairs in the final hundred yards before going on to record a half-length success over his illustrious rival.
'I knew before the race there was only one way in which we could beat Giant`s Causeway, unless we took a machine-gun to him, and that was to come wide away from him up the straight,' said Gosden.
'So I told Kevin that, if he was in the right lane, to come wide so that Giant`s Causeway could not see him and it all worked out.
'It would be presumptuous to say that we came here thinking that he would win but he had worked brilliantly in the last two works at Manton and I was confident that as long as he got in there he would run a very big race.'
Observatory will now be let down for the season but Gosden is hopeful the British racing public will not have seen the last of him.
'That will be it for the season. I shall have to speak to Prince Khaled (Abdullah) but I very much hope he will stay in training, and hopefully in Europe, next season.'
Connections of Giant`s Causeway were magnaminous in defeat with joint-owner Michael Tabor among the first to congratulate Gosden.
'You can say many things,' said Tabor. 'He`s lost nothing in defeat and is still a great horse. All credit to the winner - we have no excuses.
'Everyone wants a champion but it had to end sometime - all good things come to an end.'
Giant`s Causeway`s trainer Aiden O`Brien admitted defeat was always a distinct possibility.
'It was a disappointment for the horse and we knew he would always be vulnerable because of the way that he races - he was second twice before.
'But he thinks he`s won and that`s the main thing.'
Third home was Best Of The Bests (7-1) in the colours of Godolphin and Simon Crisford, the operation`s racing manager said: 'He has run a good honest race - I think he didn`t quite have the tactical speed over that trip to run as well as he did last time. I think we will step him up in trip again.'
Fourth-placed Medicean, the victor over Observatory when the pair met at Goodwood recently, will now also be put to grass for the remainder of the year.
'He`s run well - he`s a horse who appreciates much faster ground,' said Chris Richardson, manager of owners Cheveley Park Stud.
'He stays in training for next year but will not race again this season.'
