Johnston has last laugh as Permian powers to victory

Mark Johnston was left toasting a brave horse and a brave decision to run him in the King Edward VII Stakes after the aggressively campaigned Permian further demonstrated his fantastic attitude with a battling victory that secured the trainer his 40th Royal Ascot success.

On his sixth start of the season, and just 20 days after disappointing when sent off at just 8-1 for the Derby, the Dante Stakes winner dug deep to repel the late challenge of Khalidi by half a length, bringing up a landmark success for Johnston at his favourite meeting.

"It's a bit of a relief to get on the scoresheet. We had a blank year last year and we were dreading the idea of another one," Johnston said.

"That's 40 winners, and I'm very proud. As far as British racing is concerned this is centre stage. I think it's the number one meeting anywhere in the world, and I want to be here having winners."

Phillip Schofield (left) and Holly Willoughby present the trophy for the King Edward VII StakesCredit: Stuart C. Wilson

Johnston is a big advocate of galloping horses on the racecourse rather than at home, but he admitted the decision to let the hard-as-nails Permian take his chance so soon after Epsom was not a straightforward one.

"It was disappointing in the Derby, and a lot of people said it was too soon to come back and run at Royal Ascot, so I've had a lot of agonising days thinking about that [whether to run him], and it was only really a last-minute decision," the trainer said.

Regarding the merits of campaigning horses hard, Johnston said: "It's done him no harm. It's a good advert for running them plenty."

He also offered the view that the sport is being held back by horses being judged on their defeats, rather than successes. In light of that it is unsurprising the trainer is going to shoot for the stars with Permian and target Group 1 glory.

"I like to go Group 3 to Group 2 to Group 1 – I don't like taking a backward step unless you have to," Johnston said. "He's won two Group 2s – the best Group 2s – now he needs that Group 1 tag for his stallion career."

Permian was ridden by William Buick, who came in for the ride only after his intended mount Wolf Country was a non-runner on account of lameness.

Buick said: "He's won that really well. He's stayed very well. Mark and the team have brought him in tremendous shape. They show they can run horses and bring them to the top table. I think he [Permian] has improved all the way along."

Like Permian, runner-up Khalidi had also contested the Derby and was having his sixth start of the campaign.

Trainer John Gosden said: "I'm thrilled. Both these horses have been campaigned intensely and have run brilliantly. I could sneak off to the Gordon Stakes next, where he [Permian] would have a Group 2 penalty."

Favourite Crystal Ocean filled third, just as he had in the Dante, adding a further boost to the strength of that form after Benbatl –who was runner-up at York – had advertised it by winning Thursday's Hampton Court Stakes.

King Edward VII Stakes result