Believe it! There are Racing Gods up there in heaven above looking down on the Sport of Kings.

On an unusually warm, sunny Saturday afternoon here on the Queens Royal course at Ascot the late Lord Weinstocks famous pale blue silks and white and yellow check cap were carried to victory by his 4-year-old Irish homebred colt, Golan, in the 51st running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

The race was the fourth leg of 14 in the World Series Racing Championship.

What made the victory so poignant was that Lord Weinstock just passed away the Tuesday before the big race, 23, July, at age 77. He was a well-known and respected figure in International racing circles that, for 33 years, had been the managing director of the General Electric Company in the UK.

Weinstock, a member of the British Jockey Club since 1978, enjoyed many racing successes including two previous wins in the King George with Troy in 1979 and Ela-Manna-Mou in 1980. Another one of his most famous thoroughbreds was Pilsudski, winner of the Eclipse Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes and the Japan Cup.

Golan was trained by Sir Michael Soute who also added his third victory in this race considered the top middle distance race of the mid-summer season in Europe. The victory added to Sir Michaels championship training credentials as the colt by Spectrum out of the Generous mare Highland Gift was the first in the races 51-year history to win in his season debut. He had not raced since his sixth place finish in the Group I Japan Cup 25, November, in Tokyo that ended his 3-year-old campaign.

"The family were adamant that we should run today and its just so sad that Lord Weinstock couldnt be here," Stoute said in the winners enclosure after accepting his prize from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. " This was what Lord Weinstock and his son Simon did it for to win one of Europes top middle-distance staying races. Its a sad moment."

Golans winning jockey, Kieren Fallon, rode a brilliant race dueling at the rail against Sheikh Hamdam at Maktoums, Nayef, to win by a desperate head. "You wonder if Lord Weinstock was looking down, because the horse had never stuck his head out like he did today," Fallon said. "He was a lovely many and everybody enjoyed his company."

Nine horses left the starting barrier in the big race after three late scratches including Arc winner Sakhee as well as Millenary and High Pitched. The race also did not include any 3-year-old challengers.

Post time favorite, Grandera, ridden for Godolphin by their champion stable rider Frankie Dettori finished a disappointing fifth but maintains his four point lead after four events in the World Series with 16 compared to 12 now for Golan, Street Cry and Eishin Preston.

Next for the World Series Racing Championship is the Arlington Million in Chicago (USA) on 17 August.