Royal Ascot

Yeats Completes Gold Cup Double
21/06/07

1st (10) Yeats 8-13 Fav
2nd (5) Geordieland 12-1
3rd (6) Le Miracle 50-1
14 ran

Last year’s Gold Cup hero Yeats justified 8/13 favouritism when winning Royal Ascot’s famous staying showpiece again by a length and a half under Mick Kinane from the fast-finishing Geordieland.

“We didn’t know what to expect today but Mick rode a great race,” said winning trainer Aidan O’Brien. “He’s a very exciting horse and it would be great to come back here again next year. Everyone wants to be here and in this part of the world the Gold Cup is the big staying race. Last year we didn’t get a clear run before we came here but this season it’s all been good.

“From this day last year the plan was always to come back here again so this is a big relief and I’m delighted for everyone. We went a slightly different route this time because he has had two runs beforehand this time and last year we didn’t have time to do that. He never lost any weight between the two starts.

“There’s no doubt he’s stronger, bulkier and a quicker horse this year. It’s often a worry when they bulk up but we didn’t want to stop him from getting heavier. He travelled and quickened well today and didn’t look like a real stayer.”

Yeats was quoted at just 9/2 for the Melbourne Cup with Boylesports although he is 8/1 with Cashmans and 10/1 with both Stan James and William Hill and O’Brien admitted that the Australian race was under consideration.

“There’s every chance we’d think about bringing him there again and usually after this week we have a talk and put together a plan of big races for all the horses,” added the trainer.

“It’s all up for discussion but I’d think there’s every chance he might not go to Goodwood this time and go to the Irish Leger and then on to Melbourne. But if he gets a ridiculous weight then there is no point heading down there.

“Last year he got beaten in the Irish Leger when we didn’t think he would and he was so-so for a couple of weeks afterwards but we couldn’t put our finger on a reason why. He then came back to form and went to Melbourne but I think we also didn’t quite know how the Australian staying races would be won, we’d know more if we went back again.

“The boss and everyone have a big operation in Australia and it’s close to all of our hearts. It’s not an easy race to win and it’s a long way back!”

Kinane added: “He settled beautifully and I decided to make my move as none of the French horses were going as well as me. I went outside to take up a nice prominent position and I knew my fellow would take three or four lengths out of anything behind me. He's developing into a nice individual, he's matured, he's far better now and he enjoys his racing. The thing with the Melbourne Cup is he will have a big problem with weight, they will put as much as they can on him.

"He had settled beautifully so I decided I would make my move. I didn't think any one of the French horses ahead of me were going well enough to tow me into the race, so I decided to go on the outside. I knew my fellow would take three or four lengths out of whatever was behind me and I thought, if I do that, they won't be able to pick me up.

"He's developed into a beautiful individual. He's matured and felt marvellous, and he's a horse that enjoys his racing. It was nice to put it to bed. If he can stay sound he'll be the one they all have to beat next year.

"They'll pile as much weight as they can on him for the Melbourne Cup, he'll be weighted up to his full ability, and ground conditions there would be a huge factor. Going all that way you would want a bit up your sleeve.”

WE’LL AVOID YEATS - OSBORNE

Jamie Osborne indicated that he is in no rush to tackle Yeats again after his charge Geordieland finished second to the dual Gold Cup winner.

But Osborne was still pleased with Geordieland after the Irish staying star defeated him by a length and a half.

The Lambourn trainer said: “He has always threatened to be among the best of the stayers and he has proved himself today.

“He would win a Gold Cup in an ordinary year. We’ve come second to an exceptional stayer.

“We’ll avoid Yeats next time. It makes no sense to keep taking him on.

“He has been worked hard for this race so it is inevitable that he is going to need a bit of time out - the Goodwood Cup is a option.”

Werner Baltromei, trainer of third-placed Le Miracle, said: “It was a brilliant performance - his best ever.

“I will speak to his owner and the jockey and look at the programme book before deciding where he goes next.”

Newmarket-based trainer Neville Callaghan was very pleased with Finalmente’s fourth-placed effort.

He said: “He has run very well. He hasn’t had much luck in handicaps but has proved he is a very decent horse here.

“The winner is a class horse and has a gear or two more than we have but this was still a good run by ours.”

NO FAIRYTALE FOR THE SERGEANT

Sergeant Cecil, one of the public’s favourite horses, was never in the hunt in the Gold Cup and eventually came home last of the 14 runners, some 25 lengths adrift of the 13th-placed horse.

His jockey Jimmy Fortune said: “I don’t think there was anything wrong with him today.

“He just ran a very flat race.”

CHERRY MIX

The Godolphin challenger in the Gold Cup, Cherry Mix, was travelling well entering the straight but seemed not to see out the two-and-a-half mile trip, finishing in eighth.

Saeed bin Suroor, the horse’s trainer, commented: “It was a new distance for Cherry Mix today and he raced too keenly all the way.

“I think we will now go back over a mile and a half with him now, probably in an overseas race.”

3.45pm GOLD CUP (GROUP ONE)
£225,000 guaranteed, 2m 4f, For 4yo+ Weights 4yo colts and geldings 9st; fillies 8st 11lb; 5yo+ horses and geldings 9st 2lb; mares 8st 13lb; Weight for age 4 from 5yo+ 2lb Allowances southern hemisphere allowance 4yo 10lb Entries 42 pay £630 1st Forfeit 27 pay £720 Confirmed 16 pay £450 Penalty value 1st £127,755; 2nd £48,420; 3rd £24,232.50; 4th £12,082.50; 5th £6,052.50; 6th £3,037.50

1 YEATS (IRE) (Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle) Aidan O'Brien IRE 6-9-02 Michael Kinane [2] 8/13f
2 GEORDIELAND (FR) (Mountgrange Stud) Jamie Osborne 6-9-02 Jamie Spencer [5] 12/1
3 LE MIRACLE (GER) (Gestut Hachtsee) Werner Baltromei GER 6-9-02 Dominic Boeuf [7] 50/1
4 FINALMENTE (Edward Kirtland) Neville Callaghan 5-9-02 Johnny Murtagh [3] 66/1
5 MONTARE (IRE) (George Strawbridge) Jonathan Pease 5-8-13p Olivier Peslier [14]
6 LORD DU SUD (FR) (B Hermelin) Jean-Claude Rouget FR 6-9-02 Christophe Lemaire [8]
7 BADDAM (Noel Martin) Mick Channon 5-9-02 Ian Mongan [6]
8 CHERRY MIX (FR) (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor 6-9-02t1 Frankie Dettori [9]
9 ALLEGRETTO (IRE) (Cheveley Park Stud) Sir Michael Stoute 4-8-11v Seb Sanders [13]
10 BULWARK (IRE) (Hesmonds Stud) Amanda Perrett 5-9-02eb Jim Crowley [1]
11 THE LAST DROP (IRE) (Jack Hanson, Cavendish Inv Ltd, Sandy Patrick) Barry Hills 4-9-00 Kerrin McEvoy [4]
12 RISING CROSS (Gary Tanaka) John Best 4-8-11 Ted Durcan [10]
13 TUNGSTEN STRIKE (USA) (John Connolly) Amanda Perrett 6-9-02 Ryan Moore [11]
14 SERGEANT CECIL (Terry Cooper) Rod Millman 8-9-02 Jimmy Fortune [12]

14 ran
Distances: 1 1/2, 3 1/2, 3 1/2, 1 1/4, 7, 2 1/2, 1 1/2, nk, 5, 2 1/2, 5, 1 1/2, 25
Time: 4m 20.78
Breeding: b h Sadler’s Wells (USA) - Lyndonville (IRE) (Top Ville)
Breeder: Barronstown Stud & Orpendale)
Totes: Win: £1.80 Places:£1.10; £3.10; £6.60 Exacta:£12.10

Winning trainer:-Name: Aidan O’Brien Date of birth: 16/10/69 Previous occupation: Assistant trainer to Jim Bolger and Anne-Marie Crowley O’Brien Date of first licence: 1993 British Classic wins: (10) Vodafone Derby (2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral), 2000 Guineas (1998 King Of Kings, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2005 Footstepsinthesand, 2006 George Washington), 1000 Guineas (2005 Virginia Waters),Vodafone Oaks (1998 Shahtoush, 2001 Imagine, 2006 Alexandrova), St Leger (2001 Milan, 2003 Brian Boru, 2005 Scorpion) Irish Classic Wins: (12) Irish 2,000 Guineas (1997 Desert King, 1999 Saffron Walden, 2001 Black Minnaloushe, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Irish 1,000 Guineas (1997 Classic Park, 2001 Imagine, 2003 Yesterday), Irish Derby (1997 Desert King, 2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral, 2006 Dylan Thomas), Irish Oaks (2006 Alexandrova) Other major wins include: Vodafone Coronation Cup (2005 Yeats, 2007 Scorpion), Criterium de Saint-Cloud (2001 Ballingary, 2002 Alberto Giacometti), Darley Dewhurst Stakes (2001 Rock Of Gibraltar), Eclipse Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Hawk Wing), French 2,000 Guineas (2002 Landseer, 2006 Aussie Rules, Astronomer Royal), French 1,000 Guineas (2001 Rose Gypsy), Futurity Stakes (2002 Van Nistelrooy), Irish Champion Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2003 High Chaparral), Juddmonte International Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway), Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (2003 Hawk Wing), July Cup (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (2001 Galileo), Middle Park Stakes (2000 Minardi, 2001 Johannesburg), Moyglare Stud Stakes (2000 Sequoyah, 2001 Quarter Moon, 2003 Necklace), National Stakes (1996 Desert King; 1997 King Of Kings, 2000 Beckett, 2001 Hawk Wing; 2003 One Cool Cat), Nunthorpe Stakes (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart), Phoenix Stakes (1998 Lavery, 1999 Fasiliyev, 2000 Minardi, 2001 Johannesburg, 2002 Spartacus, 2003 One Cool Cat, 2005 George Washington, 2006 Holy Roman Emperor), Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere/Grand Criterium (1997 Second Empire, 1999 Ciro, 2001 Rock Of Gibralter, 2002 Hold That Tiger, 2004 Oratorio, 2006 Holy Roman Emperor), Prix Morny (1998 Orpen, 1999 Fasiliyev, 2001 Johanesburg), Prix du Moulin (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2006 George Washington), Racing Post Trophy (1997 Saratoga Springs, 1999 Aristotle, 2001 High Chaparral, 2002 Brian Boru), Royal Lodge Stakes (2006 Admiralofthefleet), Sussex Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Yorkshire Oaks (2006 Alexandrova) Wins in Britain 2000-2006: 10; 20 (champion trainer for win and place prize money); 10 (champion trainer for win and place prize money); 6; 4; 20; 11 Wins in 2007 (In Britain): 7 Royal Ascot wins: (19) Coventry Stakes (1997 Harbour Master, 1999 Fasliyev, 2001 Landseer, 2002 Statue Of Liberty, 2007 Henrythenavigator), Chesham Stakes (1999 Bach), St James’s Palace Stakes (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2001 Black Minnaloushe, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2007 Excellent Art), Norfolk Stakes (2001 Johannesburg), Jersey Stakes (2001 Mozart), Coronation Stakes (2002 Sophisticat), Hampton Court Stakes (2004 Moscow Ballet, 2005 Indigo Cat), King Edward VII Stakes (2004 Five Dynasties), Queen Anne Stakes (2006 Ad Valorem), Gold Cup (2006 & 2007 Yeats)

Winning jockey:-Name: Kinane, Michael Joseph Born: County Tipperary, Ireland, June 22, 1959 Apprenticeship: With Liam Browne. First winner: Muscari (Leopardstown 19/3/75) Classic wins: (8) Vodafone Derby (1993 Commander In Chief, 2001 Galileo); Vodafone Oaks (1998 Shahtoush, 2001 Imagine), 2000 Guineas (1990 Tirol, 1997 Entrepreneur, 1998 King Of Kings), St Leger (2001 Milan) Irish Classic Wins: Irish 1,000 Guineas (1988 Trusted Partner, 2003 Yesterday), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Irish Oaks (1989 Alydaress, 1996 Dance Design), Irish Derby (2001 Galileo, 2002 High Chaparral), Irish St Leger (1993, 1994 Vintage Crop, 2006 Kastoria) Other major wins include: Champion Stakes (1997 Pilsudski), Cheveley Park Stakes (1995 Blue Duster); Coral Eclipse (1993 Opera House, 1997 Pilsudski, 2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Hawk Wing), Coronation Cup (2007 Scorpion), Derby Italiano (1992 In A Tiff, 1995 Luso); Dewhurst Stakes (2001 Rock Of Gibralter); Fillies’ Mile (1996 Reams Of Verse); French 1,000 Guineas (2001 Rose Gypsy), French 2,000 Guineas (2002 Landseer), Grand Criterium (1997 Second Empire, 1999 Ciro, 2001 Rock Of Gibralter), Hong Kong Invitational Bowl (1991 Additional Risk), Irish Champion Stakes (1989 Carroll House,1994 Cezanne, 1997 Pilsudski, 2000 Giant’s Causeway,2003 High Chaparral), Japan Cup (1997 Pilsudski), Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes (2003 Hawk Wing), Juddmonte International (2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2005 Electrocutionist), July Cup (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart); King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (1990 Belmez, 1994 King's Theatre, 2000 Montjeu, 2001 Galileo, 2005 Azamour), Melbourne Cup (1993 Vintage Crop), Middle Park Stakes (2000 Minardi, 2001 Johannesburg), Moyglare Stud Stakes (2001 Quarter Moon, 2003 Necklace), National Stakes (1994 Definite Article; 1998 Mus-If; 2001 Hawk Wing; 2003 One Cool Cat), Nunthorpe (1999 Stravinsky, 2001 Mozart); Phoenix Stakes (1999 Fasliyev; 2000 Minardi; 2001 Johannesburg), Prix du Moulin (2002 Rock Of Gibraltar), Prix de l'Abbaye (1985 Committed), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1989 Carroll House, 1999 Montjeu), Prix de la Salamandre (1999 Giant’s Causeway), Prix Vermeille (2000 Volvoreta), Prix Morny (1998 Orpen, 1999 Fasliyev), QueenElizabeth II Stakes (2006 George Washington), Racing Post Trophy (1997 Saratoga Springs), St James's Palace (1992 Brief Truce, 1994 Grand Lodge, 2000 Giant’s Causeway), Sussex Stakes (1998 Among Men, 2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2005 Proclamation), Yorkshire Oaks (2006 Alexandrova) Royal Ascot wins: (40) First Royal Ascot win: St James’s Palace Stakes (June 15, 1982 Dara Monarch) Major Royal Ascot wins: St James’s Palace Stakes (1982 Dara Monarch, 1992 Brief Truce, 1994 Grand Lodge, 2000 Giant’s Causeway, 2002 Rock Of Gibraltar, 2004 Azamour), Gold Cup (1996 Classic Cliche, 2000 Kayf Tara, 2007 Yeats), Coronation Stakes (1994 Kissing Cousin, 2002 Sophisticat), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (1999 Lear Spear, 2005 Azamour), Golden Jubilee Stakes (2005 Cape Of Good Hope), Coventry Stakes (1999 Fasliyev, 2002 Statue Of Liberty, 2007 Henrythenavigator) Leading Rider at Royal Ascot: 1994 (4 wins), 1995 (4wins), 1996 (5wins), 2005 (6wins) Wins in Britain 1992-2006: 4; 4; 23; 28; 29; 23; 24; 22; 26; 26; 15; 3; 9; 23; 14 Wins in Britain in 2007: 9