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A 7-4 chance briefly, Yeats, at post time, was easy to back at 6-4. Georgdieland, second in the 2007 and 2008 Gold Cups, was a general 11-4. Patkai opened at 3-1 and drifted to 9-2. Veracity was 7-1 and then 8-1.
Hindu Kush went into a long lead, Veracity and Yeats followed. Patkai, content on a rail-scraping trip, lay fifth and sixth. Geordieland was in the rear and had one horse beat. With 1000 metres to run, Vercaity made first turn. Yeats was on the move. The two disputed the lead and the duel did not last long. John Murtagh pressed the button and moments later, Yeats had opened up what looked like a winning lead. There were 500 metres to go. Patkai, overcoming a bit of trouble, shook free. Ryan Moore was getting the kind of response he wanted. Patkai was running on and it looked like Yeats had a fight on his hands. The others were beaten. Two hundred metres to travel, the Gold Cup had been decided. Responding to Murtagh’s call, Yeats stretched out to win by three and one half lengths. Fifteen lengths away in third was Geordieland. The time for 4000 metres was four minutes and 20.73 seconds, a shade faster than the time in 2008.
Aidan O’Brien reacted. The unflappable O’Brien could not get the words out. “Unbelievable. I was so sick this morning as I really believed this could not happen. You dream and dream and dream, we were in this position and we never would be again- great things can happen.”
“How Johnny (Murtagh) could ride him with such pressure on him! I have never felt pressure for any race before and this horse was the only time.”
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“Muhammad Ali said he was the greatest and he was and Yeats proved today that he’s the ultimate heavyweight champion. This is one of the greatest days of my life. After Navan, I looked at Aidan and he told me “he’ll be grand for Ascot” and he loves fast ground, loves Royal Ascot and comes alive here,” Murtagh averred.
Here are some facts. Sagaro, a French runner, won the Gold Cup in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Years is the only horse to win the Gold Cup four times. In a century, an eight year-old has not won the Gold Cup since Merman. The Gold Cup has a 207 year history. It was not confirmed but Yeats may go next in the Goodwood Cup, a race he won in 2007 and 2008. The Gold Cup was worth 141,925 pounds to the winner. It was Murtagh’s fifth win in the Gold Cup and second time with Yeats.
Years paid 7-5 in the Tote. It has been reported that Yeats cost the bookmakers 20 million pounds. David Williams, a Ladbrokes spokesman, said, “Yeats has cost the bookies more money than any horse in Royal Ascot history. They’ll have to erect a statue but there is no way we can afford to pay for it now.”
Another bookmaker joked. “The world and his mistress had backed Yeats.”
In other action on Ladies’ Day, the Norfolk Stakes went to the Bernie Meehan-trained Radiohead, ridden by Jamie Spencer. Yogaroo, the American runner bumped into Monsieur Chevalier, the 13-8 favourite with Richard Hughes, at a critical point in the race.
Saeed Bin Suroor and Frankie Dettori broke the duck at Royal Ascot when Flying Could ran away with the Ribblesdale Stakes.
Fareer won in a four-way battle and landed a 20-1 gamble in the Britannia Stakes. Sir Mchael Stoute and Ryan Moore opened their account with Glass Harmonium in the Hampton Court Stakes. Freemantle, the 11-10 favourite with John Murtagh, came up empty. In the Yeats euphoria, Freemantle’s humiliation was ignored. The King George V Stakes was taken by Cosmic Sun, a 66-1 chance. Cosmic Sun was friendless and bookmakers were making their way to being in the driver’s seat. Niall McCullagh finished fourth with Zarinski in this race.
Ffos Las, a new track, opened on Thursday. There was a twilight jumps card. The first race was won by Plunkett, the 15-8 favourite. Tony McCoy, champion jumps rider, had three winners. There was a 10000-strong crowd. The reviews were excellent.
Jockey Darryll Holland was at Musselburgh to ride five horses in the late afternoon card. Holland won with all the five horses. Bould Mover, at 11-4, was Holland’s first winner. Callisto Moon took the perfect trip to win the second race for Holland. Ainia made it all as an odds on choice in the third giving Holland his third victory. In the fourth, Holland was on Amazing Tiger, the half money favourite, and made no mistake. Holland sat out the fifth. In the sixth and last race, Secret Venue, the 15-8 favourite, won start to finish giving jockey Holland a five-timer. A couple of days ago, Holland had won three in a row at Bath. He is in irresistible form.
Here is Friday’s card. The Albany Stakes is the first race over 1200 metres for freshman fillies. Lillie Langtry, a Danehill Dancer filly, shares favouritism with Aegean, the Wesley Ward-trained filly. Lillie Langtry, second in her debut, reversed the result in her second outing with the filly that had beaten her. Seamus Heffernan rides as John Murtagh is out of action. Aegean is two for two and has won at Keeneland on the polytrack and at Churchill Downs. John Velasquez is aboard.
The King Edward VIII Stakes over 2400 metres is next. Black Bear Island, Colm O’Donoghue up, is the lukewarm choice at 3-1. Twelve three year-olds go.
The third race is Friday’s feature. It is the Coronation Stakes, a 1600-metre affair for sophomore fillies. Ghannati, the English 1000 Guineas winner, Elusive Wave, the winner of the French 1000 Guineas and Again, winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, come together for a mouth-watering clash. Ghanaati is marginally favoured. Rainbow View, champion two year old, has not delivered on her promise this year. She is a 7-1 chance. The Aga Khan-owned and John Oxx-trained Baliyana, successful in her only 2009 outing at Leopardstown, has been supplemented. Mick Kinane will ride.
The Wolferton Stakes over 2000 metres is the next event. Sixteen run. The Queen’s Vase, a 3200-metre race, follows. Fifteen go postward. The Buckingham Palace Stakes over 1400 metres is the final race. Would you believe that there are 29 runners?
Look at the action here on Friday. Ascot, Redcar and Musselburgh hold afternoon cards. Ayr, Goodwood and Newmarket have twilight cards. In Ireland, Limerick has a flat program starting at 6 P M. There is a twilight jumps card at Down Royal.
It has been tough for me. I am enjoying what I am doing and that is what keeps me going. Ascot is physically demanding. Going up and down and getting to the course from the rail station- is wearing me down. I may skip Saturday and watch the races off course.
I leave for Dublin on June 25. The Irish Derby festival is June 26, 27 and 28. On June 27, the Pretty Polly Syakes is the main race. On June 28, the Irish Derby will be run. I am looking forward to seeing many of our Irish jockey friends.
