Sheikh Fahad ' In no Doubt' after Arod's diomed romp

The Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained four-year-old, who was ridden by Andrea Atzeni in the colours of Qatar Racing Ltd, led soon after the start and was not headed, winning by two lengths and a length and a quarter from Custom Cut and Complicit. The victory was fully deserved after Arod finished a close third in last month's Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, one of several high-class efforts in Stakes races, which included a fourth place in last year's Investec Derby over a mile and a half..

In the Epsom winner's enclosure, Sheikh Fahad, said: "I was never in doubt [that Arod could win impressively]. He ran a great race in the Lockinge and we wanted him ridden prominently today - it was the right race to try it in. It is unusual for a horse to drop back from a mile and a half to a mile, when usually it is the other way around.

Arod (Andrea Atzeni, right) is too strong for his Diomed Stakes rivals

"We will have to see how he comes out of the race and what Pete thinks about him, but there are lots of targets for the horse. There is the Queen Anne and Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot to consider, and other races after that.

Qatar Racing's Investec Oaks runner, the Ralph Beckett-trained Bellajeu, could not match Arod's performance, and finished last of the 11 runners. Atzeni said: "The ground was quick enough for her - she prefers softer going."

In today's Gr.1 Investec Derby, Qatar Racing's main hope, Elm Park, will carry the second colours. Atzeni will wear a gold cap, while Oisin Murphy, on outsider Rogue Runner, will wear the maroon cap with gold tassel.

Explaining the switch, Qatar Racing manager David Redvers said: "It seems that whenever we run two or three horses in the same race, the second colours come out best [examples would be Hot Streak's win in last year's Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock, and Pearl Secret's success in the same race last month].

"Sheikh Fahad therefore decided to put the second colours on Elm Park."

In France this evening, Cornwallville will carry Pearl Bloodstock colours in the Gr.3 Prix Paul De Moussac (19.05 local time) over a mile. The son of Makfi has won six times and was little more than seven lengths behind winner Make Believe - another son of Qatar Bloodstock stallion Makfi - when ninth of 18 in the recent Gr.1 Poule d'Essai Des Poulains.

Pictures of Arod - Laurence Squire