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The Shadwell-owned Hukum displayed a tremendous attitude when edging out Westover in a thrilling renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this afternoon.

It was a race rightfully being billed as the contest of the season and rightfully so as ten high-class horses went to post for the midsummer highlight.

The success provided Hukum with a second top-level success after his brilliant display in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom a year ago whilst it was a first victory in the contest for jockey Jim Crowley.

Connections had considered retirement for Hukum, who sustained a career-threatening victory following his Coronation Cup victory, but the Shadwell partnership showed their patience and were duly rewarded with success at Ascot today.

Hukum was sent off a 13/2 chance to land the Ascot feature on the back of his reappearance win over Desert Crown in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown but had been much shorter earlier in the week due to the forecast rain.

Owen Burrows' runner could be spotted travelling sweetly under Jim Crowley in the middle of the pack and the pair began to make their move as the pace lifted rounding the turn for home. Rob Hornby committed Westover for home approaching the two-furlong marker and although King Of Steel briefly threatened to get seriously involved, it soon became apparent a great duel was about to commence as Hukum went off in pursuit.

The two previous Group 1 winners continued to do battle up the Ascot straight and no quarters were given as both older horses gave their all. However, it was Hukum who always looked to be narrowly getting the upper hand and the brother to Baaeed went on to score by a head in a race for the ages.

Hardwicke Stakes winner King Of Steel fared best of the three-year-olds back in third with Luxembourg filling the fourth spot.

It was a massive day for winning trainer Owen Burrows who said: "I'll be honest, I'm pretty speechless."

"It is a big team effort – I have a great team behind me. My head lad rides him every day, John Lake."

"To be honest, we felt he has never been better, this season for whatever reason, he's shown a lot more speed. But what a tough horse – and he had to be, because the second didn't lay down, did he? He made us fight all the way."

"What a race. It lived up to its spectacle. I'm a bit hoarse from shouting."

"What can you say about him – he's an absolute star. I can't put into words what it means. I'm in my second season as a public trainer and we have a great team. The guys back at Shadwell rehabbed him after his injury at Epsom – huge credit to them."

"It was the type of injury that wouldn't retire a horse, but he'd just won a Group One and he was five, so you think – hats off to Sheikha Hissa for giving him a chance."

The Lambourn-based trainer added: "This horse has been a huge part of my career. He is my first Royal Ascot winner, first Group One winner and he won in Dubai when we first went out after the sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan, so to come back and so what he's done is just amazing."

Shadwell's Racing Manager, Angus Gold, told Sky Sports Racing: "Amazing, a huge, fantastic result."

"What a horse he is to come back from a serious injury, they did brilliantly at the stud to get him back, and Owen has been very patient with him."

"It means a great deal to Sheikha Hissa, with the horse bred by her father [Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum]."

Winning rider Jim Crowley was full of praise for trainer Owen Burrows and told ITV Racing: "He's out of the shadow of his brother now! It's something special and a great training performance by Owen."

"Unbelievable. I've always believed in him, even last year I said to [trainer] Owen [Burrows] that this could be a King George or Arc horse."

He added: "It went smoothly, Westover got first run on me a little bit but that gave me something to aim at. He was so tough – I never felt like I was going to come off second-best."

King George success ensured trainer Owen Burrows was saddling a quickfire 44/1 double as Alflaila made a triumphant return to action in the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes less than an hour beforehand.

The well-backed 9/4 favourite and dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin was the major disappointment in the contest. Aidan O'Brien's son of Deep Impact never looked to be travelling having been stuck wide throughout and was allowed to coast home in his own time under Ryan Moore.

Aidan O'Brien reflected on Auguste Rodin's no-show by saying: "There are no excuses. Whatever happened, the power ran out and it ran out early."

"That is the unusual thing. The race wasn't even started."

"He was calm in the paddock, we were very happy with him. There is obviously a reason, and we'll find it. It is frustrating, but that's the way."

Paddy Power cut Hukum from 14/1 to 7/1 for Arc glory at Longchamp in October.