Ascot thursday: can Yeats make it 4 in a row?

How far back to the 3rd horse?

Great start to the day, thanks for the pics Mr Hibernia.

Yeats makes history with fourth Gold Cup win


Report: Royal Ascot, Thursday
Gold Cup (Group 1) 2m4f, 4yo+

YEATS showed all his brilliance to record an unprecedented fourth victory in the Ascot Gold Cup.

The super stayer's rider, Johnny Murtagh, was keen to make it a real test of stamina and struck for home on the winner over three furlongs out. He quickly opened up a clear lead and never looked like being caught from that moment.


Yeats's victory was the first for an eight-year-old in the staying showpiece in more than a century and he now goes down in history as the greatest Flat stayer of all time.

The early pace, set by outsider Hindu Kush, was only moderate and Murtagh settled his mount in a close third. At the six-furlong marker, Veracity moved into the lead, stalked by Yeats.

Murtagh asked his partner for maximum effort before three out and Yeats quickened away like a true great. It proved a race-winning move as although Patkai closed the gap in the final furlong, he was never going to get to Yeats.

The winner was well backed and sent off the 6-4 favourite with Patkai returning at 9-2. Geordieland, who was never close enough to land a blow, plugged on for third at 11-4. Yeats has been installed 5-1 joint favourite with Patkai for next year's Gold Cup with William Hill.

Yeats's victory was the fourthof the week for Murtagh, who leads Richard Hughes by one in the top jockey competition.

Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien was quick to pay tribute to his champion, he said: "Unbelievable - that's all I can say.

"I was so sick this morning as I really believed this couldn't happen.

"History is very hard to change, we knew we had a wonderful horse but usually fairytales don't come true.

"You dream and dream and dream, we were in this position and we never would be again - great things can happen.

"It's unbelievable and I want to say a big thanks to everyone involved.

"I think today Johnny had a lot of pressure on his shoulders and the way he handled it, and the way he rode it, it was something else. I couldn't believe it.

"He's an unbelievable horse and we knew there would never be another one of him.

"How Johnny could ride him with such pressure on him. I've never felt pressure for any race before and this horse was the only time."

Peter Reynolds, racing manager to Patkai's owners Ballymacoll Stud, said: "He ran a very goodrace and he stayed the trip. He just ran a little freely down to the start.

"He obviously loves it round here and it was no disgrace to be beaten by a very good horse - who is a specialist round here.

"Sir Michael [Stoute] and Ryan [Moore] were very happy with him, but I can't tell you anything about plans at the moment."

King George revealed as surprise option for Yeats


HISTORY-MAKER Yeats could return to his favourite racecourse next month after Aidan O'Brien said the Betfair-backed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 25 was one of the races under consideration for the four-times Gold Cup winner.


Yeats was on Monday given quotes of no bigger than 25-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after part-owner John Magnier had said the race was a possibility for the eight-year-old, and bookmakers are sure to issue more prices on Yeats adding another win to his glittering career after O'Brien revealed they are also looking at a return trip to Ascot.

Reporting Yeats to have come out of his historic win in good shape, O'Brien outlined "plenty of options" for the star stayer, who Magnier and David Nagle would have to supplement for the 1m4f contest.

He said: "He seems to be fine since Ascot and nothing has been decided for Yeats yet, but the King George, Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and the Arc and Cadran are all open for him."

Looks great, runs great, but must have a bum pedigree. Otherwise he surely would have been off to stud.

Sadlers Wells / Lyndonville

where is Robin Bruss when you need him, but is very well bred imo.

Fancy it to go for a 5th Gold Cup?

ps I gather they did not geld him somewhere along the line?

Problem is "stayers" are a low demand market? could be a reason.

John magnier said in an interview that he is a peoples horse and they took the decision to run him to please the public,what better kind of marketing could they have had for his stud duties than what happened last week?

Problem is he might to be too old to get the leg over, but great to have him still racing.