Nayef reigns supreme as rivals flop
The five-year-old, trained by Marcus Tregoning, hit the front a furlong out under Richard Hills and pulled clear of his rivals to take the Group One prize at odds of 5-1.
The 50-1 outsider Rakti ran a superb race to take second, two and a half lengths behind, with Islington (7-1) a further length away third.
The winner was foiling Godolphin's bid to land the race for the fourth year in a row.
But victory still went to a member of the Dubai-based Maktoum family, as Nayef carries the colours of Sheikh Hamdan. He also owns the intended pacemaker Ekraar, who missed the break and was then bustled up by Willie Supple to challenge Moon Ballad for the lead.
Godolphin's number one contender, ridden by Frankie Dettori, was a spent force early in the straight and trailed home ninth of the 10 runners.
Winning jockey Hills said: "He flew today. He was a bit rusty coming out of the stalls and I was looking for Willie.
"I know my horse stays real good and I was happy with the pace. I knew in the back straight he was going to run a big race from there on in. I was going so well it was silly waiting.
"We learned a bit from last year. This year we've been patient and let him come and tell us. The boys have done a great job and Marcus is a classic trainer."
A jubilant Tregoning said: "It's a great experience to win here. I've always said Ascot is the greatest place to win a horserace and especially this meeting."
He was quick to praise Supple for his efforts on Nayef's pacemaker.
"Willie Supple did a marvellous job there because the situation looked hopeless from the start. He did a superb job to get the horse there to do his job.
"He used him up a lot in the process, which is obviously why he didn't stay on a lot longer in the straight. He had to use a lot of his speed to get there.
"But it's come off, thank heavens, and we're obviously very happy.
"We got it wrong last year with running him back so quickly (after winning in Dubai). We gave him a few more weeks and he was going great before today.
"He's really won it emphatically. He's got plenty of speed, so I'm sure he will be well supported when he eventually goes to stud, but not just yet I hope!
"We'll discuss it with Sheikh Hamdan of course, but obviously the Eclipse and the King George are serious considerations.
"He seems to run really well at Ascot, so I wouldn't rule out the King George. The Eclipse is a possibility, but the King George very much so, I would say." William Hill immediately quoted Nayef at 5-1 for the Ascot race, in which he was a close second to Golan last season. Coral make him 7-4 for the Eclipse.
Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Godolphin's two unplaced runners, Moon Ballad and last year's winner Grandera, said: "That was a very disappointing result.
"They both look fine after the race. They are class horses and there will be races for them later in the season."
Dettori knew the writing was on the wall for Moon Ballad some way out. He said: "He was very fresh too fresh. Three furlongs out I knew we were in trouble. But with this race under his belt, I'm sure he will improve."
