The Gold Cup
Group 1, Ascot 16:15
£350,000 added,
4yo plus,
2m 3f 210y, Class 1   
Thursday 17th June 2021

FreeRacingTips

1 Subjectivist 13/2
2 Princess Zoe 28/1
3 Spanish Mission 7/1
12 ran NR: Trueshan Distances: 5l, ½l, 1¾l
Time: 4m 20.28s (fast by 1.22s)

Subjectivist gave a display of staying brilliance for Joe Fanning and Mark Johnston in the G1 Gold Cup, one of the crown jewels of Royal Ascot.
 
Run over the marathon trip of two and a half miles, many expected three-time winner and 5/6 favourite Stradivarius to strike again, but it was the four-year-old Subjectivist who took the honours as Fanning set sail for home entering the straight and never looked like being caught.
 
Princess Zoe outran her odds of 28/1 to take second place for Irish trainer Tony Mullins, fully five lengths behind the impressive winner. Spanish Mission was a further half-length back in third. 
 
Stradivarius briefly met trouble in running on the home bend and could never land a blow under Frankie Dettori, ultimately finishing fourth.
 
This was a fourth Gold Cup success for Mark Johnston, following Royal Rebel (2001 & 2002) and Double Trigger (1995), and a 47th Royal Ascot win in total for the Middleham handler.

Trainers Quotes

Johnston said: “We thought in the wintertime that Subjectivist was so much on the up. He won in France last season on heavy ground and people were thinking he needed heavy ground to excel. But then he went onto Dubai and that was the big question mark, could he go on fast ground? That was the performance of his life and I couldn't be confident coming here that he could replicate it after such a long time off and a big gap in between. I knew if he could reproduce that, he would take an awful lot of beating.
 
“I was really happy throughout the race. We never tell the jockey to lead, we just say to go the pace that suits our horse and Joe is the master at it. When he is sitting second like that, settled and relaxed with a horse giving him a beautiful lead in front, I thought it was perfect.
 
“With half a mile to go, I knew we were going into new territory, but he hadn't asked for any effort yet. He had a beautiful ride round and we knew how he could finish from Dubai, and he did that again.
 
“I thought he was the best horse we've taken Stradivarius on with, but we had a scare just after the Dubai race, so he's missed quite a bit of work after that. The preparations have not been smooth in that 45 minutes after his run in Dubai, he was filling in one leg and we thought that would be serious. When he came home from Dubai, he had scans at Newmarket, so he had lots of time off. Then in Middleham last week, he skinned both knees and one hock. The only positive was that Attraction did a similar thing before winning the Queen Mary and that didn't stop her either.
 
“We'll look at the Goodwood Cup. It is the obvious next race, then we'll have an eye on the wintertime. We can't ignore the money on offer in Dubai and Saudi. If the horse is well after this, we should work the horse back from this race next year."
 
On Fanning, Johnston added: “I think that’s his third Group One, so he's not new to this entirely, but it’s waited until the sort of twilight of his career and he deserved it long ago. You really see him at his best there. 
 
“Everybody talks about Steve Cauthen as a great front running jockey, and I always put Jason Weaver up in the same sort of league, although he wasn't around for so long, but I don't think there's anybody better than Joe Fanning. He is absolutely perfect at setting the pace. People kept saying is he going to lead today, is he not going to lead today? However many thousands of runners Joe's had for us, we never tell him where he's got to be in the field, and it was just a perfect pace all the way around.”

Trainers Quotes

Fanning said: “Subjectivist has been a great horse this year, even last year, he just keeps improving.
 
“In Dubai on that good ground, he was always doing his best work near the end, so I never felt that was an issue or ground as well, he’ll go on any ground. I just find he’s a horse you don’t complicate things with; if there’s something in front, let him go. He is a little bit keen, but every race he’s been getting better, more relaxed, and I said to Mark [Johnston], we are better off jumping and letting him do everything. If there is no pace then let him stride on; if there is pace, then just [leave him] wherever he settles.
 
“It was a steady pace, but he was relaxed, which was the main thing. In Dubai the race collapsed in front and I took it up, and I thought six down he was starting to push a bit in front, but I was never going to take him back. It was always the plan that if he wanted to roll on, let him roll on. Five out and before the home bend, I was able to get breathers into him to fill him up, and I thought it would take a very good one to get by him.
 
“Mark is a great man to ride for. Charlie is there now and the staff have been there for years – it’s a great team. I went to Mark after my apprenticeship, I think my first winner was for him in about 1991, and I went full-time in 1995. A few years ago! It’s great for the yard and Dr Jim [Walker], who has been a brilliant owner with us for years. 
 
“It was nice to get such a reception from the other jockeys when I came in - they are a great bunch of lads. It’s great to be here in a big race with the crowd back.”
 
Jockey Joey Sheridan said of the second: “Princess Zoe was brilliant. I am delighted for Tony [Mullins] and all of the team. I am over the moon.
 
“People were probably doubting her after her last run saying she had a lot to prove, but we know how good she is. All she needs is cut in the ground. I think the better horse beat us today, but on softer ground you don't know what could happen.
 
“To ride in a Gold Cup is unbelievable. It is incredible to be riding in situations like this."

Trainers Quotes

Tony Mullins said: “Around a furlong down, I just thought for a second… I was so excited, but we’re over the moon with the run we had, because I believe this [Subjectivist] is the new Stradivarius, and unfortunately we met him. He beat us in France and he beat us here, so we’ll have to think of something new to try to beat him. He’s going to be a great champion.
 
“The Prix du Cadran is always the one in our head, maybe now we’ll look at the Irish St Leger or a staying race in France, because it’s doubtful the Goodwood Cup or the Doncaster Cup are going to have cut in the ground. She didn’t have it here, but the longevity of her legs won’t stick this ground all the time. Paddy [Kehoe, owner] still has aspirations of going to Cheltenham, and I’m not discounting it if he wants to go. It’s on our agenda, but for the moment the Prix du Cadran is the one.”
 
Spanish Mission’s rider William Buick said: “It was a great run. That trip probably stretches him. The last furlong was a long one, and the winner won very well. Credit to the winner, but Spanish Mission gave me a great ride."
 
John Gosden said of Stradivarius: “It didn't work out exactly. The winner was most impressive. We were an awful long way back and then we had Princess Zoe behind us. We were just caught too far back. Frankie couldn't get out when he wanted to. You need these races to go right, it didn't exactly go to plan in running, but full marks to the winner, I thought he was mightily impressive.”
 
Dettori said: “I ran into a pocket turning for home. When you get stopped in a two-and-half-mile race, you never get going again. The winner’s a good winner, but I’d love to have had another shot at it.”

%ALT_TXT%%

Gold Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£350,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (4)     Subjectivist 4 9-1 Mark Johnston Joe Fanning 13/2
2 (5) 5 Princess Zoe 6 8-13 Anthony Mullins J M Sheridan 28/1
3 (6) ½ Spanish Mission 5 9-2 Andrew Balding William Buick 7/1
4 (8) 1¾ Stradivarius 7 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori 5/6F
5 (13) 9 Emperor Of The Sun 4 9-1 Donnacha O'Brien Gavin Ryan 16/1
6 (9) nk Nayef Road 5 9-2 Mark Johnston Ben Curtis 50/1
7 (11) 3¾ Santiago 4 9-1 A P O'Brien Seamie Heffernan 11/1
8 (3) 4 Serpentine 4 9-1 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 11/1
9 (7) 3¾ Twilight Payment 8 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Tom Marquand 16/1
10 (1) 19 Rip Van Lips 5 9-2 Andreas Suborics James Doyle 66/1
11 (2) 7 Amhran Na Bhfiann 4 9-1 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 40/1
12 (12) 99 Ben Lilly 4 9-1 David Brown Graham Lee 150/1
NR 5 10 Trueshan 5 9-2 Alan King NON RUNNER

FreeRacingTips

THE GOLD CUP - Past Results

2020-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 6-9-02 4/5F

2019-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 5-9-02 Evs F

2018-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 4-9-01 7/4JF

2017-WINNER-BIG ORANGE 6-9-02 Owner-Bill & Tim Gredley; Trainer-Michael Bell; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-5/1
2ND-Order Of St George 5-9-02 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore;
SP-5/6 Fav
3RD-Harbour Law 4-9-00 Owner-Jackie Cornwell; Trainer-Laura Mongan; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-33/1
14 ran; Time-4m 22.4s; Dist-sh, 6

2016-WINNER-ORDER OF ST GEORGE 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-10/11 Fav
2ND-Mizzou 5-9-02 Owner-Jon Kelly; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-10/1
3RD-Sheikhzayedroad 7-9-02 Owner-Mohammed Jaber; Trainer-David Simcock; Jockey-Martin Harley; SP-40/1
17 ran; Time-4m 26.21s; Dist-3, 2¼

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)

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