'The best race I've ever ridden in' - heroic Hukum and Jim Crowley deny Westover in thrilling King George

A race fit for a king was watched live by a princess, who crowned Hukum as a heavyweight champion following his titanic tussle with Westover that had echoes of some of Ascot's greatest duels.

Japanese superstar Equinox can lay claim to being the finest mile-and-a-half horse on the planet, but Hukum emerged as the clubhouse leader in Europe after pulling out all the stops to beat an outstanding cast of rivals under Jim Crowley.

The jockey described the contest, which was worth £1.25 million, as the best he has ridden in and it was hard to argue when one considers the opposition that faced the Shadwell homebred, who is trained in Lambourn by Owen Burrows.

Dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin went off the 9-4 favourite, Epsom second King Of Steel was a fancied 9-2 shot, while high-class filly Emily Upjohn also had considerable support. In addition, Hukum faced old rival and last year's winner Pyledriver, while Westover also brought Classic form to the table via his Irish Derby triumph 12 months ago.

No wonder bookmakers had spent much of the build-up chopping and changing prices, deliberating who would start market leader.

Something was clearly amiss with Auguste Rodin, who trailed in last and is in danger of becoming a Jekyll and Hyde character, but the rock-solid Hukum is a byword for consistency and dependability, and – despite a serious injury – has soared to new heights.

"We felt he's never been better," said Burrows, whose stable star showed why that might be the case when denting Desert Crown's reputation in Sandown's Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May.

Jim Crowley and groom Arif Mohammed celebrate after Hukum's victory in the King GeorgeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

That was Hukum's first outing since he won last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom and then suffered a leg problem that threatened to end his career. 

"For whatever reason he's shown a bit more speed and what a tough horse he is because – fair play to the second – he didn't lie down," Burrows added. "What a race, what a spectacle. It lived up to the hype and I'm a bit hoarse from shouting, but what can you say about him - he's an absolute star.

"I can't put into words what it means. I just said to Sheikha Hissa [Hamdan Al Maktoum] there, 'Thank you for giving us another chance'. He could have been whipped off to stud so credit to her for a very sporting decision and giving us that chance, and hats off to my team for getting him here in that shape."

Burrows, who started in a private role for late Shadwell supremo Hamdan Al Makoum in 2016, has operated as a public trainer for the last two seasons and is no longer a paid employee for the organisation.

No wonder, with Alflaila winning the Group 2 York Stakes 25 minutes before Hukum, he described it as the biggest hour of his career.

"It would have to be the best day," said the former jump jockey, who collected his prize from Princess Anne. "I'm lost for words about this horse. He's been a huge part of my career; my first Royal Ascot winner, first Group 1 winner and we ran him in Dubai after the sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan. He's amazing."

Crowley, who enjoyed a great association with Hukum's brilliant brother Baaeed last season, was in a similarly complimentary mood. 

"That's the best race I've ever ridden in - without doubt," he stressed. "How could you say it wasn't?"

Ascot's history of pulsating finishes – be it Grundy v Bustino or Shishkin v Energumene over jumps – is probably not lost on Crowley, who added: "He gave me his everything and the second never lay down at all; it was nip and tuck all the way. It was a great horse race and was very exciting to be part of it, although probably more exciting to watch. I don't have to worry about that now."

What Crowley will have to think about is possibly even greater glory as Hukum is 7-1 (from 14) with Betfair and Paddy Power for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

That race is in October, by when Burrows might have found the words to do Hukum justice, but you could not blame him if he hadn't.

Read these next:

Aidan O'Brien on Auguste Rodin: 'For some reason his power disappeared, it was a very unusual run' 

York Stakes: Hong Kong-bound Andrea Atzeni produces another masterclass to strike on Alflaila 

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