Century for O'Brien as Scandinavia strikes Gold in epic
In one of the very finest of Gold Cups, Scandinavia (USA) (Justify {USA}) ousted Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) to provide a fitting crowning moment for Aidan O'Brien as the Ballydoyle maestro reached 100 Royal Ascot winners.
Rolling back the years to the tussles of Ardross and Le Moss, the 11-8 favourite needed every yard of the two-and-a-half mile trip to wear down the Gosdens' gallant title-holder and for most of it looked unlikely to do so.
But, with Ryan Moore at his formidable best, Scandinavia got it done very late to add suitable drama and gravitas to his handler's momentous landmark.
At the line, last year's St Leger hero had a head to spare over Godolphin's warrior supreme, with a yawning nine-length gap back to Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in third, most of which was created during that pulsating final furlong.
“He should have won easier! I've had to work to get to Trawlerman, thought I had it and then had to go again. Trawlerman is a brave horse, he kept coming but my lad had enough,” Moore said of his fifth Gold Cup winner, who is half the age of the runner-up. “Aidan had him in a great place. He identifies these horses and brings them here absolutely jumping out of their skin and I'm lucky to ride them.”
“The answer with Aidan is he won't care, he'll probably be thinking about the next 100, that's what separates him.”
Wathnan's Earth Shot gets up late in the Ribblesdale
It is taking almost a crowbar to deny Joseph O'Brien at Royal Ascot this week, but luckily for Wathnan and James Doyle they had the equine equivalent as the operation's recent acquisition Earth Shot (Ire) (Time Test {GB}) got up to deny the Owning Hill runner Johanna Walsh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) late in a thrilling G2 Ribblesdale Stakes.
Needing to be nimble in a renewal in which Lady Roisia (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) stumbled and unseated Hector Crouch exiting the stalls and continued riderless among the group, the 4-1 second favourite who had been compromisingly wide on the home turn kept coming to overhaul Johanna Walsh close home and prevail by a head.
Gilded Prize (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a length away in thrid for Juddmonte.
Double for James Doyle as Generic wins the Hampton Court
One race after breaking his duck for the 2026 Royal Ascot meeting, James Doyle was riding the wave again as Jeff Smith's Generic (Ire) (Kameko {GB}) brought up a quickfire double in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes.
Last seen finishing seven lengths adrift of Constitution River in Chester's Dee Stakes, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred stayed on best in a strongly-run renewal to deny Ballydoyle's 11-8 favourite Endorsement (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by a length at 18-1. The Hugo Palmer-trained Glacius (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was a head further back in third.
Balding added, “He probably was overpriced today. We thought we were in the mix, as it was a strong time at Chester. I had put him in the handicap here on Saturday, but I just felt that this looked open enough and worth a go. I thought James gave him a peach of a ride and I'm really delighted for Jeff and thrilled as he's by Kameko who is so under-rated. This horse is very much like his dad.”
Craig Bernick's Nola Soul Leads 1-2 for Justify in the Chesham
Justify had the favourite for Thursday's Listed Chesham Stakes Aix La Chapelle (USA) withdrawn at the start, but remarkably still filled the first two places with his sons Nola Soul (USA) and On Just Terms (USA).
Bred by John Gunther, the Fozzy Stack-trained TDN Rising Star Nola Soul was always prominent under Seamie Heffernan and stayed on to gain the advantage approaching the furlong pole en route to a half-length verdict over the Joseph O'Brien-trained newcomer On Just Terms. Aperoll (GB) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) was a head back in third.
“From day one, he had the action of a good horse and I've loads of experience with the Justifys and know how to nurture them,” Heffernan said of the 11-2 shot who had beaten Wednesday's Windsor Castle winner King Of Cloughan in the Leopardstown maiden.
“He always showed plenty. He is by the right stallion, with a big stride and big heart,” he added. “When they give you the class feel from day one and they keep backing it up every week when you sit on them, it is usually a good sign. Big thumbs up to Craig–I think he picked him out himself and he sent him to Fozzy with a lot of confidence. We just kept agreeing that he is above where he should be. It is brilliant and I owe Craig a big thank you.”
For Stack, this represented a landmark first Royal Ascot success in the race in which Thesecretadversary was second 12 months ago. “He's a lovely horse and we have a high opinion of him,” he said. “Seamie has always loved him. He is a big, strong galloper who can go fast for a long time. He is a January foal. I would say he would have no problem getting a mile and a quarter in time. I would hope he might turn up in a good race at the end of the year.”
