'I'll be forever in his debt' - Jim Crowley and Owen Burrows pay tribute after brilliant King George winner Hukum is retired

Jim Crowley hailed Hukum's toughness and bravery after this year's brilliant King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner was retired to take up stallion duties in Japan. 

Shadwell's number one jockey partnered the son of Sea The Stars in all of his 18 career starts, including in his finest moment when denying Westover by a head in Ascot's summer showpiece in July.

Hukum also enjoyed top-level success in the 2022 Coronation Cup at Epsom, impressively beating subsequent King George winner Pyledriver by four and a quarter lengths.

The six-year-old suffered a career-threatening hind-leg fracture during that win, but he made a triumphant return from a 356-day absence when beating last year's Derby winner Desert Crown in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.

He was unable to bow out on a winning note when finishing ninth behind Ace Impact in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp this month, and will join Darley's Japan roster in Hokkaido for the 2024 breeding season.

"I've ridden him in every single start and have a lot of affection for him. He's been a big part of my career," Crowley said. "I always knew there was a big one in him and then he won the Coronation Cup. For him to then come back from injury to win the Brigadier Gerard and the King George is testament to how tough and genuine he was. The King George was probably one of the best for a decade and he won that day on guts."

The Owen Burrows-trained star retires having won 11 of his 18 career starts, earning £1,387,995 in prize-money. His other notable victories include in the 2022 Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold, while he also gave Burrows his breakthrough Royal Ascot win in the 2020 King George V Stakes.

Hukum and Westover fight out a thrilling finish to the King GeorgeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Burrows said: "He's been an immense horse for me for five seasons. It's not often you get one to train that long on the Flat. I'll be forever in his debt. As a three-year-old, he was my first Royal Ascot winner. 

"He then won in Dubai and gave me my first Group 1 in the Coronation Cup, and the King George this year capped it all. It was a hell of a spectacle with two very brave horses giving their all. He's brought my career to a completely different level."

Burrows nominated the King George as his highlight with Hukum, but also paid tribute to his ability to bounce back to his best from his lengthy absence.

"The King George field was filled with Group 1 winners and the final couple of furlongs was as fine a race as you'll see," he added. "It was a huge team effort to get him back too. It's a credit to the horse. 

"As a six-year-old, he could have quite easily said he didn't fancy it anymore. Not just physically, but mentally he wanted it as well. Hopefully that will serve him well taking up his stallion duties."

Hukum hails from a high-class Shadwell family, and is a brother to the six-time Group 1 winner Baaeed.

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