It's not jam...

Duke of Marmalade digs down and wins the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group I) at Ascot.

In what was a cracking run in the straight, Duke of Marmalade guts out a neck victory from Papal Bull after being headed about 100 yards out. Youmzain, after fluffing the start, spotting the field six lengths and being blocked when the real running began, showed a champions heart and fought back for a distant third.

It looked as if Murtagh had some trouble switching his whip around when Papal Bull made his run on the outside of the Duke but once Johnny got the stick to his right hand, Marmalade fought back on the rail and got up for the win.

This O'Brien character, apparently a trainer of some repute, keeps winning Group I races and is on pace to break his own record for such tallys in a year.

Speaking of records, is the NTRA or anyone promoting the streak that Pepper's Pride is on? You would think that something could have been swung at the last minute to move the Lincoln Handicap to today and mix it in with the Saratoga coverage, No? I know there are other issues behind these events but when you are desperate you need to resort to desperate measures. Broadcast a possible record breaking race; promote one of the few good stories this year.

Scrappy T is running this afternoon at Delaware Park in the ninth race. One mile Optional Claiming 50k.

Meydan racecourse agrees to carpet their training track. This is a racing facility.

My Arabic is a little rusty but I was watching a thing on Godolphin and trying to read Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's lips and I could swear I saw him say "I got your NYRA nation right here."