He emerged as performer of the highest class in 2017 when he took the Winter Derby Trial before recording Group 1 wins in the Jebel Hatta, Tattersalls Gold Cup and Irish Champion Stakes.
His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found, Minding and Ruler of the World.
[4] As a five-year-old in December 2011, with the future Decorated Knight in utero, Pearling was put up for auction at Tattersalls and was bought for 1.3 million guineas by Tony Nerses on behalf of the Blue Diamond Stud.
Ridden as on his previous start by Graham Lee he overcame an obstructed run in the straight to win "cosily" by a length and a quarter from the filly Ella's Honour.
On his first run for his new trainer the colt started at 7/1 for the Listed Paradise Stakes over the straight mile course at Ascot Racecourse in April and finished fourth behind GM Hopkins, Battle of Marathon and Arod.
On 14 July Decorated Knight was sent to Ireland for the Group 3 Meld Stakes over nine furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in which he was partnered by George Baker and went off the 9/4 second favourite behind the Royal Hunt Cup winner Portage.
He raced towards the rear of the seven-runner field before making rapid progress in the straight and after taking the lead a furlong out he drew away to win "comfortably" by two lengths from Portage.
After racing close behind the leaders Decorated Knight moved up to challenge for the lead approaching the final furlong and got the better of a struggle with Arab Spring to win by a short head.
He was made the 2/1 favourite in a twelve-runner field which included Muffri'Ha (2016 Darley Stakes), Ertijaal (Cape Derby), Promising Run (Al Rashidiya) and Earnshaw (Prix Thomas Bryon).
[12] Three weeks later over the same course and distance, the horse started 15/2 third favourite for the Dubai Turf but never looked like winning and came home sixth of the thirteen runners behind the Japanese filly Vivlos.
Churchill started favourite while the other eight runners included Eminent (Prix Guillaume d'Ornano), Cliffs of Moher, Zhukova (Man o' War Stakes), Poet's Word, Moonlight Magic, The Grey Gatsby and Success Days.
Decorated Knight was restrained at the rear of the field and was still last of the twelve runners entering the straight but then produced a strong run on the outside, gained the advantage inside the final furlong and won by half a length from Poet's Word.