Two wins and two second places from four starts shows strong form for this Charlie Appleby-trained son of Frankel, crucially one of those victories is the Epsom Derby.

He certainly had strong stamina in his previous races, and it was shown to be too much for his rivals on the Epsom Downs.

Adayar disappointed in his maiden race at Nottingham as he finished fourth in the EBF Maiden Stakes despite going off as the 11/5 favourite. He lost ground when pushed along at five furlongs from home, while a stumble with four furlongs to go ended his chances. He did not have the pace to challenge, but kept on well, finishing six-and-a-half lengths back from winner Set Point.

Two weeks later, he made amends at the same track, winning the EBF Stallions Golden Horn Maiden Stakes over the same mile-and-one-half-furlong distance. He dominated this race, leading with three furlongs to go. He was ridden out at two furlongs and going clear at the one furlong mark, running on well to secure a nine-length victory over Alpine Stroll.

This saw the end of his two-year-old career, with Adayar returning to action in the one-mile-two-furlong Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown on April 23.

He was narrowly beaten in this race, finishing a half length behind Alenquer at odds of 8/1. The performance was a strong one, as he started the race towards the rear, finishing second in the final strides.

His final race saw a step up in distance to one mile three-and-a-half furlongs, which is similar to that of the Derby.

In the Novibet Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield, he finished second, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind Third Realm despite being the 6/5 favourite. He kept on well but was no real match for the winner, nor did he have any real excuses not living up to his favouritism.

Adayar was the surprise winner of the Epsom Derby, giving trainer Charlie Appleby his second victory of the famous Classic race.

The 16/1 shot, who was only ridden by jockey Adam Kirby after he lost the ride on John Leeper to Frankie Dettori, powered clear in the final furlong.

Appleby said: "All the credit goes to Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin. We spoke on Wednesday night after the horses did their breeze in the morning and I'll be honest, I said to His Highness I couldn't be happier with them all, but I did feel this horse was more a Leger horse, and he said 'Charlie, run him, there's only one Derby.

"As always, he's right.

"But from the team's point of view, it's fantastic, they all work so hard.

"I'm delighted for Adam, it was a fantastic ride and it's something all jockeys want to achieve."

William Buick secured his second King George win and Adayar's first, bceoming the first Derby winner to win the race since Galileo in 2001.

After his terrific Derby performance at Epsom in June, Adayar replicated his success, comfortably winning at Ascot in July. From the get-go Appleby's Bay Colt left runner-up Mishriff for dust, with Love trailing behind in third.

Despite Mishriff's chance of taking the lead, Buick took control on the final straight, gaining the top spot from Broome.

From sitting behind Broome to taking victory, Buick stated that "this is what the King George is all about!"

Charlie Appleby trains Adayar. Appleby has over 25 major career wins to his name, including the Epsom Derby in 2018 with Masar. Also in 2018, he became the first British-based trainer to saddle a Melbourne Cup winner with Cross Counter.

Appleby has over 700 career wins, with major successes including the Coronation Cup in 2020 with Ghaiyyath, as well as the Eclipse Stakes with both Hawkbill (2016) and Ghaiyyath (2020).

In 2017, he guided four Grade One winners at various races all over the world. Two of these were in France (the Prix Marcel Boussac with Wild Illusion and the Prix Saint-Alary with Sobetsu), while he also won the Sydney Cup with Polarisation. He also tasted success in the USA when Wuheida won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

For three of his four races, Adayar's jockey has been William Buick, who has raced with Godolphin, Adayar's owners, since November 2014. Buick has won three Classics in his career - the St Leger in 2010 and 2011, along with the Derby in 2018.

He has also won a number of other major races including the Coronation Cup with Ghaiyyath in 2020, three Eclipse Stakes (Nathaniel in 2012, Hawkbill in 2016 and Ghaiyyath in 2020), the 2011 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Nathaniel, and the 2017 Lockinge Stakes with Ribchester.

However, it was Kirby who rode Adayar to victory in The Derby. Kirby finished second in the 1,000 Guineas aboard Saffron Beach in May while he has only run once before in the Derby. He has a 16 per cent win ratio in British flat races over the last five years, picking up over 500 wins from more than 3,000 rides.

Adayar is owned by the Godolphin outfit, who are the Thoroughbred racing stable of the Maktoum family. They have won over 5,000 races worldwide since their foundation in 1992.

Adayar was sired by the legendary Frankel, while his dam was the American horse Anna Salai.

Frankel finished his 14-race career unbeaten, becoming the highest-rated racehorse in the world in May 2011. He retired after winning the Champion Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012.

Frankel's other key successes include winning the 2010 Dewhurst Stakes, the 2011 2,000 Guineas, the 2011 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the 2012 Lockinge Stakes.

Anna Salai has a modest racing record, winning one race and finishing second on four occasions from eight starts.

She won the Group Three Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp in 2010, while she also finished second in the Group One Irish 1,000 Guineas in the same year, only beaten by a head. Her other runner-up placings were at Deauville, Longchamp and Goodwood.

Adayar is by the strongest horse in her progeny, but she is also the dam of Anna Sophia and Indian Road.