Royal Ascot for the Hardwicke Stakes, where he produced his best performance to date, taking the lead in the straight and pulling clear to win by six lengths in a course record time of 2:26.53. Frankie Dettori, riding the colt for the fifth time was enthusiastic- "What a performance – he just took my breath away,". So impressive was Doyen's victory that he was made clear favourite for the following month's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over the same course and distance, and he was even blamed for the absence of top-class three-year-olds in the race. On the day, he fully justified his reputation, winning by an easy three lengths in a style described The Independent's correspondent as " simply magnificent". Dettori praised the colt saying, "I have never had a horse travel like he did today...he was absolutely devastating". The King George win could have been the first of many Group One successes, and Sheikh Mohammed missed seeing his colt Rule of Law win the St Leger in order to watch Doyen run in the Irish Champion Stakes. He started odds-on favourite but ran poorly, failing to produce his usual acceleration and finishing seventh. The Champion Stakes saw a similar disappointment, with Doyen again starting favourite but finishing well beaten behind Haafhd. Three more unplaced efforts in 2005 saw him retired to stud. Assessment In the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings Doyen was awarded a figure of 127, making him the third best racehorse in the world, the highest-rated European and the highest-rated turf performer. Stud career Doyen was retired to stand at his owner's Dalham Hall Stud at Newmarket. In 2009 he was transferred to Gestüt Auenquelle in Germany. To date the best of his progeny have been Lady's Purse (Prix de Royaumont) and Sneek A Peek (Premio Federico Tesio). He has since been transferred to Sunnyhill Stud, County Kildare, Ireland. Pedigree References External links Doyen wins the King George 2000 racehorse births Racehorses trained in France Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Racehorses bred in Ireland Cartier Award winners Thoroughbred family 1-s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners