American Pharoah off mark in Britain after King rules for McEvoy

Many eyes were firmly focused on the chances of their big guns at Ascot, but Godolphin would have been more than content with the performance of Saqqara King, who landed odds of 4-6 in the 7f novice stakes at Newmarket.

The Charlie Appleby-trained two-year-old, who cost $200,000 as a yearling, became the first of American Pharoah's progeny to win in Britain when he stayed on strongly under Kerrin McEvoy to see off Mass Media in the same colours.

Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said: "Saqqara King did that nicely. He pricked his ears inside the final furlong and won with a bit in hand. He may well go up in trip later on but there are no immediate plans."