Zindabad wins Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot

Mark Johnston continued his memorable Royal Ascot as Zindabad gave him a fourth victory of the meeting with a gutsy front-running display in the Hardwicke Stakes.

His six-year-old battled on well under Kevin Darley to hold off Storming Home by a length, with Millenary just a short-head away in third.

It was the third time in four years that Johnston has taken the Group Two event - which he reckons is ripe for upgrading.

‘‘It should be a Group One,’’ the trainer said. ‘‘Fruits Of Love won it twice and he was the best horse I have trained who didn’t win a Group One.

‘‘This horse ran very well when third in the Group One Coronation Cup on ground too soft for him at Epsom last time and he was unlucky in the Canadian International last year.

‘‘These are his conditions, this is his trip and that is how to ride him. This was his best performance.’’