The Gold Cup in Honour of The Queen's 90th Birthday |
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| Group 1, Ascot 16:20 £400,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 16th June 2016 | |
1 Order of St George 10/11f
2 Mizzou 10/1
3 Sheikhzayedroad 40/1
NR: Curbyourenthusiasm (IRE)
17 ran Distances: 3l, 2¼l, 2¾l
TIME 4m 26.21s (slow by 6.21s)
Order Of St George comes from the back of the field to land the Gold Cup
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Order Of St George overcame trouble in running to run out a very impressive winner and demonstrate trainer Aidan O'Brien's superiority in the race by providing the Ballydoyle trainer a record seventh Gold Cup success. The Irish handler also gained his 51th victory at Royal Ascot and third win of the week following Caravaggio (Coventry Stakes) and Even Song (Ribblesdale Stakes).
Mille Et Mille set a furious gallop in the race with Order Of St George held up in the mid-division by Ryan Moore. Turning for home, the son of Galileo suffered traffic problems while trying to make his way through the field, forcing Moore to bring the four-year-old wide on the outside.
However, once O'Brien's charge found daylight, the strapping colt stayed strongly down the outside to swoop to the front inside the furlong pole. The Irish-bred colt responded well to Moore's urgings and Order Of St George continued to find plenty all the way to the line to register an easy three-length success.
O'Brien, the winning-most trainer in the Gold Cup, said: "It was a great performance. He is a brave horse. I'm over the moon to come here less than three weeks after his last run [Saval Beg Stakes, Leopardstown] and win this."
O'Brien was quick to highlight the skills of Ryan Moore who gave the horse a superb ride. He commented: "Ryan gave him a great ride and was very cool on him. It was a very rough race. Ryan was very clever and didn't panic on him. He put him asleep and despite it getting pretty rough, he wasn't worried and pulled Order Of St George out in the home straight without using any gas. He had to be very cool to do what he did.
"The lads have done a great job to get the horse back here after he had a setback last year as we were a little worried that we wouldn't get him back. Donnacha [O'Brien, jockey] was very happy when he rode him in the Saval Beg at Leopardstown so we knew we had a chance.
"He was asleep during the race and I knew he was a seriously classy horse. When Ryan switched him out, he came up the middle and wasn't waiting on anyone else, he just kept on coming. He is just a big Rolls Royce engine."
"He was the highest-rated older horse in Ireland last year. We knew he stayed and with these middle-distance horses with that kind of chance, you always feel they have a chance because of their quality. He won an Irish Leger in soft ground off a strong pace by 11 lengths and was going away. So if he wasn't going to stay none of the horses were going to stay.
"When you see a horse win the Leger like him does, Joseph [O'Brien] came off him and said that he was the best stayer he had ever rode by a mile."
O'Brien suggested a tilt at the Irish Leger and also the Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe were possible destinations for the impressive winner. He said: "We thought that we would give him a break now and then give him an Irish Leger prep before going for the Irish Leger. We would then look for something in the autumn and we would not rule out the Arc if there was suitable ground come Arc time."
O'Brien was also quick to pay tribute to the owners and staff who are so integral to the Ballydoyle operation. He said: "I'm delighted for Lloyd Williams, John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor. They and the lads at home put a lot in and it is a big team effort and everyone works very hard together. It is a good sense of satisfaction for everyone.From the day the horses are conceived to the day they come to the Ballydoyle and then come here.
"It's great when the days go the right way because other days don't go your way. You just have to take the good with the bad and enjoy the good days."
Gold Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£400,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
18 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (10) | Order Of St George (IRE) 10/11f | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 4 | |
| 2nd | (1) | 3 | Mizzou (IRE) 10/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-2 |
L M Cumani | 5 |
| 3rd | (12) | 2¼ | Sheikh-zayedroad 40/1 | M Harley 9-2 |
D M Simcock | 7 |
| 4th | (18) | 2¾ | Mille Et Mille 33/1 | T Thulliez 9-2 |
C Lerner | 6 |
| 5th | (13) | 2¼ | Burmese 40/1 | W Buick 9-0 |
M P Tregoning | 4 |
| 6th | (6) | 1¼ | Flying Officer (USA) 7/1 | L Dettori 9-2 |
J H M Gosden | 6 |
| 7th | (17) | nk | Clever Cookie 8/1 | P McDonald 9-2 |
P D Niven | 8 |
| 8th | (4) | nk | Suegioo (FR) 50/1 | P Hanagan 9-2 |
R A Fahey | 7 |
| 9th | (16) | ½ | Kicky Blue (GER) 50/1 | M Barzalona 8-13 |
T Clout | 6 |
| 10th | (9) | 6 | Max Dynamite (FR) 7/1 | P J Smullen 9-2 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 11th | (5) | 13 | Wasir (GER) 66/1 | U Rispoli 9-0 |
Andreas Wohler | 4 |
| 12th | (7) | 12 | Pallasator 12/1 | Oisin Murphy 9-2 |
Sir Mark Prescott | 7 |
| 13th | (2) | 1½ | Fun Mac (GER) 33/1 | James Doyle 9-2 |
H Morrison | 5 |
| 14th | (8) | ¾ | Tiberian (FR) 66/1 | A Fouassier 9-0 |
A Couetil | 4 |
| 15th | (15) | 17 | Scotland (GER) 20/1 | J P Spencer 9-2 |
A M Balding | 5 |
| 16th | (11) | 30 | The Twisler 100/1 | S De Sousa 9-0 |
Jane Chapple-Hyam | 4 |
| 17th | (14) | 31 | Griraz (FR) 100/1 | D O'Brien 9-2 |
D Pipe | 11 |
| NR | (3) | Curbyour-enthusiasm (IRE) 16/1 | D Sweeney 9-2 |
D M Simcock | 5 |
CUMANI 'PROUD' OF MIZZOU'S GOLD CUP SECOND
Trainer Luca Cumani was impressed with Mizzou's run, after the five-year-old finished second to Order Of St George, three lengths behind the winner.
The five-year-old son of Galileo, who was last seen winning the Longines Sagaro Stakes in April, was running well coming into the straight, but could just not find enough to fight off the winner, who flew down the centre of the course.
Cumani said of the 10/1 shot: "I think it was one of the best Gold Cups ever. It was run at a very strong pace and it was exciting to see the field strung out and everybody having to work hard.
"Mizzou ran a great race and I can only be proud of him. For a moment I thought we might do it when he hit the front but then I saw Order Of St George coming down the outside and knew my fate."
Commenting on future plans, the trainer continued: "We will probably run him next in the Lonsdale at York, then the Doncaster Cup and then back here for the grand finale on Champions Day (QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup)."
Andrea Atzeni, who was aboard Mizzou, added: "The horse was very honest. He jumped off well and got a nice enough position early on and turning in when he hit the rising ground he picked up well. But I could then see Ryan Moore on the outside who was picking up just a little bit better then me.
"But fair play to him, Mizzou is tough and he's improving and he goes on any ground as well. It was a great run, I just think he bumped into one better this time."
SIMCOCK DELIGHTED WITH HIS SHEIKH
Sheikhzayedroad, who was having his first run in the UK this year after two outings at Meydan in March, delighted his trainer, David Simcock, with a determined third place.
Simcock commented: "We are delighted with him. We didn't know what would happen going to two and a half miles for the first time but he has run his heart out. I am so proud of him.
"Probably everything will be abroad for him now."
Martin Harley, the seven-year-old Dubawi gelding's jockey, added: "He's a brave boy and is a big money spinner for the yard. He has done a good job today.
"He definitely got the trip well. He did take me on a little bit for the first half of the race but luckily when he got down to the bottom of the hill he started to relax.
"It was quite messy turning in but he finished his race off real good."
THE GOLD CUP - Past Results
2015-WINNER-TRIP TO PARIS 4-9-00 Owner-La Grange Partnership; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-12/1
2ND-Kingfisher 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP- 5/1
3RD-Forgotten Rules 5-9-00 Owner-Moyglare Stud; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran; Time-4m 22.61s; Dist-11⁄4, nk
2014-WINNER-LEADING LIGHT 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey- Joseph O’Brien; SP-10/11F *fin 3RD promoted to
2ND-Missunited 7-8-13 Owner-Vanessa Hutch; Trainer-Michael Winters IRE; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-40/1 *fin 4TH promoted to
3RD-Brown Panther 6-9-02 Owner-Andrew Black & Owen Promotions Ltd; Trainer-Tom Dascombe; Jockey- Richard Kingscote; SP-5/1
13 ran; Time-4m 21.09s; Dist-nk, sh, 4½ (original finishing order) Estimate finished second but was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race test
2013-WINNER-ESTIMATE 4-8-11 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Simenon 6-9-02 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/1
3RD-Top Trip 4-9-00 Owner-J Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-7/1
14 ran; Time-4m 20.51s; Dist-nk, 1
2012-WINNER-COLOUR VISION 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-6/1
2ND-Opinion Poll 6-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-5/1
3RD-Saddler’s Rock 4-9-00 Owner-Michael O’Flynn; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/2
9 ran; Time-4m 42.05s; Dist-½, nk 4/5 Fav Fame And Glory (7th)
2011-WINNER-FAME AND GLORY 5-9-02 Owner-Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Fitri Hay; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Opinion Poll 5-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-16/1
3RD-Brigantin 4-9-00 Owner-Team Valor; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Pierre-Charles Boudot; SP-16/1
15 ran; Time-4m 37.51s; Dist-3, 4½
2010-WINNER-RITE OF PASSAGE 6-9-02 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen;
SP-20/1
2ND-Age Of Aquarius 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Eduard Mordukhovitch; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-8/1
3RD-Purple Moon 7-9-02 Owner-Craig Bennett; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-12/1
12 ran; Time-4m 16.92s; Dist-nk, 6 11/4 Fav Ask (5th)
2009-WINNER-YEATS 8-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Patkai 4-9-00 Owner-Ballymacoll Stud; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/2
3RD-Geordieland 8-9-02 Owner-A Taylor, K Conlan, D Carberry; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-11/4
9 ran; Time-4m 20.73s; Dist-3½, 15
2008-WINNER-YEATS 7-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 7-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-15/2
3RD-Coastal Path 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre-FR; Jockey-Stephane Pasquier; SP-2/1
10 ran, Time-4m 21.14s, Dist-5, 4½,
2007-WINNER-YEATS 6-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-8/13 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 6-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-12/1
3RD-Le Miracle 6-9-02 Owner-Gestut Hachtsee; Trainer-Werner Baltromei GER; Jockey-Dominique Boeuf; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time 4m 20.78s, Dist 1½, 3½
2006-WINNER-YEATS 5-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon;
SP-7/1
2ND-Reefscape 5-9-02 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-100/30
3RD-Distinction 7-9-02 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran, Time-4m 20.45s, Dist-4, hd
2005-WINNER-WESTERNER 6-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer-Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-7/4
Fav
2ND-Distinction 6-9-00 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-33/1
3RD-Vinnie Roe 7-9-02 Owner-Seamus Sheridan; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-9/2
17 ran, Time-4m 19.49s, Dist- nk, 5 (Run at York)
2004-WINNER-PAPINEAU 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-5/1
2ND-Westerner 5-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer: Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Gerald Mosse; SP-13/2
3RD-Darasim 6-9-02 Owner-Markus Graff; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-28/1
13 ran, Time-4m 20.90s, Dist-1½, 2½ 5/4 Fav Mr Dinos (6th)
2003-WINNER-MR DINOS 4-9-00 Owner-Constantinos Shiacolas; Trainer-Paul Cole; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-3/1
2ND-Persian Punch 10-9-02 Owner-Jeff Smith; Trainer-David Elsworth; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-20/1
3RD-Pole Star 5-9-02 Owner-D I Russell; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Pat Eddery; SP-12/1
12 ran, Time: 4m 20.15s, Dist-6, ¾ 5/2 Fav Mamool (5th)
