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Death of Gold Cup Winner Rite Of Passage Confirmed

The Irish National Stud has confirmed the passing of 2010 Ascot Gold Cup hero Rite Of Passage (GB) (Giant's Causeway–Dahlia's Krissy, by Kris S). He was 19.

INS CEO Cathal Beale said, “Coming on the back of the recent loss of Kicking King, it is a sad day to report the passing of Rite Of Passage. He was a lovely, gentle horse who lived out his days receiving the greatest of care from all the team here. He will be deeply missed by all of us.”

Trained by Dermot Weld for owner Dr. Ronan Lambe, Rite Of Passage placed twice at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing third in the 2009 Champion Bumper and the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle the following season. Following a three-month break, the Newsells Park Stud-bred returned to win at the Royal meeting under Pat Smullen. Rite Of Passage ran twice more after that success, winning the 2012 British Champions Long Distance Cup off a 510-day break on what was the final outing of his 12-race career.

“He was difficult to keep sound, but he was an extremely talented and courageous racehorse,” recalled Weld. “His performance in the Gold Cup was one of the best for many decades.”

“He had a wonderful retirement in the National Stud, he looked magnificent and his fabulous care is a great credit to the team at the National Stud. When I went to see him recently, he came straight over to me and reminded me of what an outstanding individual he was.”

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Subjectivist Eyes Return On Saudi Cup Undercard

Not seen since Royal Ascot success two years ago, Group 1 winner Subjectivist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could return on the Saudi Cup undercard in Riyadh next month, according to trainer Charlie Johnston.

“Entries closed yesterday morning for the Saudi Cup meeting and Subjectivist has been entered in the [G3] Red Sea Turf H.–[the] 1 mile and 7-furlong race,” Johnston said.

Winner of the 2021 G1 Gold Cup June 17, the now-6-year-old was previously victorious in the 2020 G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 25 and the 2021 G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March of 2021. During his win at the Royal Meeting, he sustained a potentially career-threatening leg injury. While there were initially hopes he would return to defend his Gold Cup crown, it did not happen by the summer.

Subjectivist is now back in full work mode, and while Johnston is taking a day-to-day approach, he is pleased with what he has seen so far.

Reporting on Subjectivist's progress, “He's been back in work since early October and has been cantering all the way through December and into January now. There's still a long way to go–we haven't started to turn the screw just yet with any faster work.

“Every day the fingers are crossed watching him, but so far so good.”

Just this week, Johnston took over the training licence fully from his record-breaking father Mark. He has already celebrated a pair of winners.

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Moment of 2020: Stradivarius’s Ascot Gold Cup

My moment of the year was the Ascot Gold Cup win of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). If there was one significant puncturing of the general gloom with a shot of light it was this emphatic display from everyone’s favourite stayer. I just love him, he’s a top horse with the requisite looks to remain in the collective racing memory for a long time. I was too young to appreciate Ardross and thought I’d have to wait a long time for another Yeats, but along came this wonderful specimen and I feel spoilt as a lover of great stayers. Go on, do it again in 2021!

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Princess Zoe Targets Ascot Gold Cup

Group 1 winner Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) is done for the year and will look toward the G1 Ascot Gold Cup in June as her long term goal. Her first outing could be for the Saudi Cup meeting in late February. A winner of the Listed Oyster S. at Galway on Sept. 8, the grey mare landed the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend. She was looking for her sixth straight win in the G1 Prix Royal Oak, but finished fourth on Sunday.

“She pulled out fine this morning and is in transit as we speak,” said trainer Tony Mullins. “The people looking after her said she looked a bit tired, which I can believe. The way she ran tells me that we’re going to have some action again next year. You might have been worried what she did in the Cadran was a flash in the pan, but she showed me yesterday that she’s a serious trier and we’ll be at the top table again next summer.

“There’s no doubt the 22-day turnaround was just a step too far. I thought she performed admirably under the circumstances. She’ll have a holiday now. There is a chance that we could go to Saudi Arabia in February–if we were sure the ground wasn’t going to be firm, that could come onto the table.

“I’d say the Ascot Gold Cup will be a target. I don’t see us having a busy summer, because I want to leave enough petrol there for the likes of the Prix du Cadran and the race yesterday again. It’s very early to be making definite plans, but my talk of going for the Arc might be gone off the table for the moment–we’re looking at stamina races.”

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