Super Shamardal holds court

SHAMARDAL lit up a grey first day at York’s relocated Royal Ascot meeting as he unleashed a devastating display to win the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Only nine days after winning the French Derby, the Godolphin colt dropped back to a mile to follow a path trodden by his sire Giant’s Causeway, who took this race en route to winning the Coral-Eclipse, Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International in 2000.

And it is on to the Eclipse at Sandown that Shamardal now goes, setting up a fascinating showdown with the brilliant Vodafone Derby winner Motivator.