Champion Stakes tactics: pacemakers were crucial in giving us a conclusive answer to the identity of the middle-distance king

The role of pacemakers has attracted plenty of controversy this season but in a race such as this, which was billed as one for the ages between three heavyweights, Mount Kilimanjaro and Devil's Advocate ensured we gained a conclusive answer as to who was top of the pile in the middle-distance division.

As Wayne Lordan shot to the lead aboard O'Brien's second string and Robert Havlin began to angle Devil's Advocate across from stall 11 at the first bend to join, backers of the first three in the market, who were in Indian file at the back of the field, wouldn't have had any cause for concern.

Mount Kilimanjaro (white face) and Devil's Advocate (white cap, right) dominated the early proceedingsCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Havlin and Lordan completed the second furlong in less than 12 seconds before steadying to more reasonable fractions between 12.2 and 12.4 seconds for the next three. With the two market leaders Ombudsman and Calandagan bringing up the rear, settling beautifully for William Buick and Mickael Barzalona, and tucked in behind Delacroix, it was apparent there was going to be no excuses.

Devil's Advocate injected more pace into the race on the turn into the home straightCredit: Sky Sports Racing

Five furlongs out, Devil's Advocate moved into a clear lead, breaking 12 seconds again and he set sail for home three and a half furlongs out, while Mount Kilimanjaro began to tread water. There was no sense of panic from the riders of the big three when the field swung around the final bend as they were merely building up a head of steam before laying down the gauntlet.

Calandagan (second right) and Ombudsman (right) begin to make their move from the rear of the fieldCredit: Sky Sports Racing

However, Christophe Soumillon on Delacroix soon found himself in a spot of bother as James Doyle on First Look peeled out to make his challenge at the same time. Delacroix consequently found himself trapped behind runners as Calandagan powered up his outside, costing him crucial momentum at a time when his two biggest rivals were thundering through the gears in clear daylight, with both riders taking no chances down the outside.

Calandagan asserts in the final furlong under Mickael BarzalonaCredit: Sky Sports Racing

In the third-last furlong, the winner and runner-up produced the fastest furlong of any horse at any stage in the race, each hitting around 11.3 seconds as they rocketed towards the fading Devil's Advocate, but Barzalona's mount had a final scintillating kick to settle matters decisively.

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