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Blue Point proved the king of the sprinters with victory in the G1 King's Stand Stakes, holding off the 2/1 favourite Battaash for the second year running.

Trained for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin by Charlie Appleby, Blue Point  (5/2) scored by one and a quarter lengths from Battaash, with Soldier's Call (16/1) a further one and a half lengths back in third, and just a nose ahead of fourth home Mabs Cross, who had finished third last year.

Sheikh Mohammed said: "That has given me a lot of pleasure. When you win a Group One, you are very happy. Blue Point was in Dubai during the winter and the weather there helped him. He came here a stronger horse.

"It is very good to get a winner at Royal Ascot. Everybody wants a horse that is able to run at Royal Ascot."

William Buick, who won on Blue Point 12 months ago, is currently sidelined following a case of concussion and so James Doyle stepped in for the ride today. Appleby said of Buick: "He's here today, he's in the gym regularly and he's looking great. With the way things are going, I would expect to see him back by the end of July. Having said that, he pushes himself so hard and if he told me next week he was ready to come back it wouldn't surprise me. It is William's call."

Blue Point, who has now four races from five starts at Ascot, a track which brings out the best in him, had run in three sprints at Meydan since the turn of the year, winning them all, including the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. Appleby said: "During the winter he did nothing but impress us with the way he matured both mentally and physically. When William won on the horse on his first start this year he said we're dealing with a different horse now. In training we could see that.

"Coming into today's race, I knew he was in the form of his life. Physically he looks the real deal. Two weeks ago James rode the horse in a bit of work and came back saying 'the ground is a bit loose' and all the usual excuses you come up with when a gallop doesn't go quite according to plan, but I hoped the horse would come forward for that.

"Then last Wednesday he rode him again and the horse was electric. James got off him and said, 'That's the fastest horse I've ridden', and we saw what he meant today.

"There's no getting away from it that we were concerned about the rain and the ground - he has good form on slower ground, but not at this level. I stood alongside William during the race and said, 'What do you think - are we happy?' and he replied, 'Yes, watch him, watch him'. We could see James just starting to get going on him, and Battaash was travelling so well and likely to put a killer punch in, but once they locked horns I knew our horse would see it out.

"He'll probably have a little break now. We know the stiff five furlongs suits him, so the Flying Five [at the Curragh] is a possible. He ran in the [G1] Nunthorpe Stakes last year and he was under the pump from half way, although I'm not saying he won't go there.

"I would say it's probably unlikely he would go back for the [G1] July Cup again over six furlongs, but it will be an interesting discussion and one we will have with Sheikh Mohammed. William got off him last year and said the track didn't suit him - they get running a bit quick, then down into the dip, which is not like the dip in the Rowley Mile, but it's there and he likes to finish strongly on a stiffer track. 

"Stepping up to six furlongs doesn't worry me because he has won the Al Quoz over six and he has held the track record here over six in the past, but we will think about running plans."

Asked if Australia's Everest, a sprint race worth $13m might be a consideration, Appleby said he doubted it due to the frenetic build up to the race, which he felt was not suitable for an entire five-year-old. He said: "Predominantly I take geldings to race in Australia for that reason. Our horses are not mentally adapted to that style of pre-race. It's hard for colts with horses walking round in front of them for three hours before a race. It's quite challenging for most colts, and it would be especially so for Blue Point." 

"For His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the Royal Family to be here is marvellous - the one thing we talk about all winter is Ascot, Ascot, Ascot. Once this meeting finishes on Saturday, we'll start planning for next year. It's a team effort and to get the horses here in the condition of their lives is all down to the team behind me, and for which I am very grateful. To get a winner is what it's all about, and even better on the first day."