18.00 Southwell, Nov, £6,600, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT)
John and Thady Gosden trainee DANIELLE (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) is kin to five black-type performers headed by this year's G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Her nine rivals include King Power Racing's fellow newcomer Midnight's Dream (Ire) (Cappella Sansevero {Ire}), a half-brother to last term's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye runner-up White Lavender (Ire) (Heeraat {Ire}), from the Roger Varian stable.

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A couple of the top races have been won by a significant new investor, Wathnan Racing. Apparently, the people involved were eager to maintain a low profile, but it's tricky to remain incognito when the meeting's most storied trophy is being presented by the new King of England while Frankie Dettori, that least retiring of retiring jockeys, is cavorting in your colors in the foreground.

Though unable to be present himself, the man behind Wathnan was duly revealed as the Emir of Qatar, whose brother and cousin have already been valued investors on the European Turf for some time.

The British breeders who respectively sold the Emir homebreds to win the G1 Gold Cup and G2 Queen's Vase are both indebted to the priceless heritage of British racing, which keeps it far more competitive than its internationally inadequate prizemoney would otherwise allow. Investment from overseas–whether in deals like these, or at public auction–is often the only thing that can keep a British racing and breeding program in the game.

Over the years, of course, the wider debt of horsemen everywhere to Middle Eastern investment has been incalculable. Primarily this has been animated by personal passion, for the horse. With time, however, the Maktoums also began to explore sport's value to the kind of agendas that come under the umbrella of “soft power.”

Two Phil's | Coady Photography

That's an increasingly important element in the other, far more prominent transfer window of the European sporting summer. This week A.C. Milan supporters were shocked by the abrupt defection of young midfielder Sandro Tonali to Newcastle, a British club recently catapulted into the elite by new Saudi ownership. Tonali, a boyhood Milan fan, is a born leader and nobody envisaged him being anything other than club captain a decade from now. That even he should turn out to have his price, then, will have spooked even supporters of rival clubs, who will see that no player can nowadays be considered safe from poaching by wealthier leagues. Indeed, a massive recruitment surge by Saudi Arabia's own domestic league may yet require the English Premier League, accustomed to devouring the best of the rest, eventually to have a taste of its own medicine.

In our own sport, the Big 'Cap once represented the most glittering of prizes. But nowadays its obvious candidates are more likely to head halfway round the world to contest staggering purses in the desert. While racing obviously represents a trifling branch of the soft power tree, the insouciance with which the Saudis could lay on a prize so much bigger than even the G1 Dubai World Cup means that we cannot be surprised by the recent experiences of golf and now soccer.

Yet whatever prompts the injection of cash, whether soft power or hard profit, everyone needs to remember that the lifeblood of all sport is investment of another kind: emotion.     And if passion is treated as a commodity, you will ultimately invite disaffection. Because the one thing that can't be quantified on a balance sheet is the heart of a fan. That's about heritage, identity, formative experience.

This is just as true of racetracks as it is of soccer clubs. Okay, so you might make more money in the short term, for instance, by cashing out one of the most cherished spectator experiences anywhere on the Turf, at Arlington Park. But if we end up with a bunch of soulless gaming facilities, which happen to maintain ancillary ovals in front of deserted concrete sheds, then in a generation or two we won't have a sport at all.

In a world where everything is for sale, then, a horse like Two Phil's (Hard Spun) stands heroically against the tide. He reminds us that sport often depends, for fan engagement, on things money can't buy: pluck and luck.

Reverting to soccer, a lot of American investors (accustomed to sealed franchises) were perplexed when proposals for a European Super League had to be abandoned overnight after the clubs' own fans furiously rejected the removal of jeopardy. They understood, as the club owners didn't, how vital it is that even the biggest clubs, if performing badly enough, should be vulnerable to relegation; and equally that the little guy, showing sufficient merit, can supplant the underachiever.

Lord Miles | Ryan Thompson

Imagine what the Kentucky Derby would be like if restricted to horses that either cost seven figures, or homebred by six-figure covers. As it was, we could root for a blue-collar hero, whose connections had in effect been evicted from their cherished Chicago circuit by the ruthlessness of the same company that hosted the Derby.

Two Phil's was bred from the only Thoroughbred ever bought by the Sagan family (for $40,000) and was ignored by every expert in Book 1. Yet he absorbed a pace that burned off all those around him, before seeing off all bar a single closer.

Unlike Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), who once changed hands for $17,000 before showing a similarly big heart on the Classic trail a couple of years ago, Two Phil's was not asked to grit out another Triple Crown race. Instead, he resumes his campaign Saturday, eyeing an open sophomore championship, in the GIII Ohio Derby.

It's a hop from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie for many around his ownership crew, who will doubtless have noticed that the GIII Chicago S.–a race, it goes without saying, formerly staged at Arlington–has found its latest sanctuary downriver from Ohio, at Ellis Park, while the Churchill team deal with other issues. Their initial efforts to do so included standing down not just Lord Miles (Curlin), who also resurfaces in the Ohio Derby, but even the champion juvenile.

To that extent, at least, they understand how community engagement is crucial to commercial viability. Because the one transfer window that will never close is the one that allows fans to take their hearts–not to mention their business–elsewhere.

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Always travelling strongly towards the rear as the 2021 hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) took the race by the scruff of the neck, he was threaded up the rail to overhaul the 11-4 favourite Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) inside the final furlong. Despite that veteran battling back, it was Royal winner number 79 and the ultimate sign-off for Dettori as he asserted to score by 3/4 of a length with Subjectivist fading to be 3 3/4 lengths behind in third. The win was the third Group 1 of the week for Frankel, with Juddmonte's kingpin seemingly assuming the mantle of the King of Royal Ascot.

“I thought it was a bridge too far from handicaps to Group 1, but I had the perfect trip,” Frankie said. “I didn't expect it. The last five years I've had Stradivarius, so the pressure was on. This one I thought was a bit of a chancer, but John was confident. It's unbelievable, on my last year winning the Gold Cup. Myself, The King and Queen Camilla had a talk beforehand about his win and my relationship with his mother, Queen Elizabeth, then the next race I go on and win the Gold Cup and he presents the trophy. It's amazing, really amazing.”

WHAT A RACE! @FrankieDettori wins the Gold Cup aboard Courage Mon Ami! #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/dOcUjboc4w

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 22, 2023

Just how steep the learning curve of Courage Mon Ami has been can be evidenced by his debut in September when carrying the Oppenheimer silks in a 12-furlong Kempton novice. Blowing the start and several lengths behind the rest of the field early, he was still able to produce a sustained effort to win comfortably and even though his final start as an entire colt in October saw him double up in more professional manner on Newcastle's Tapeta, it was not until his comeback at Goodwood last month that targeting this race seemed even remotely realistic.

Upsetting a host of proven group 1 performers going so far into the unknown trip-wise in one of the world's toughest races would normally be an insurmountable task for a horse of such little seasoning, but Courage Mon Ami has rare quality. Settled on the fence as Stradivarius was 12 months ago, he was able to coast through most of the first two miles but as the stable's three-time winner had been in the last two renewals was also a hostage to fortune as the action hotted up. Denied an out approaching the home turn, Frankie was forced back to the inner but unlike last year saw it all open up in front of him like a symbolic parting of the waves.

Unleashing a 11.93 split between the three and the two to enter the fight, Courage Mon Ami had to switch around Coltrane as that rival took over from the tiring Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) but by now the fledgling stayer's blood was up. Ahead at the furlong marker, the winner was the freshest horse for the finale where Frankie's innate poise was evident despite all the emotion and pressure of the moment.

“I wanted to swing out wide but Stéphane [Pasquier] kept me in and actually won me the race, because I cut the corner and it happened,” Frankie added. “I got the splits when I wanted to and in fairness he showed a turn of foot. He's still a baby, but when Coltrane came back he picked up again. John's a great trainer and he does things like that. Sometimes if I don't believe it I just go along with it! My kids shook hands with The King afterwards and are old enough to understand now. For the last 18 years, they've just thought I was a guy on the TV, maybe like Peppa Pig or something!”

Even by John Gosden's standards, this was a supreme piece of training and unlike anything in the history of the great race. “I don't think I'll try that again,” he quipped in reference to the winner's inexperience. “He's always looked smart, but as you can tell by the size of him he's taken plenty of time to mature. You can't practise two and a half miles at home, but Frankie stayed cool and rode him cool in the dark down the inside, saving every inch.”

“Courage Mon Ami is a lovely horse and has gone from the all-weather to Goodwood to here, so full credit to him,” Gosden Sr added. “You'd like to think he's still maturing now and can still improve. [Bloodstock agent] Richard Brown has done a very clever job, as he was asked to find horses to come to Royal Ascot for Wathnan Racing and they are hard to buy. Gregory and Courage Mon Ami were owner-breeder horses and the costs of keeping a stud going means owners have to sell.”

“It crowns Frankie's week,” he concluded. “He's had a phenomenal career. We've been working together on and off for thirty years and had one argument in that time. How many marriages can say that? We patched that up after five days and were winning group ones in Deauville straight after and kicked on after that. Look at the result today.”

Coltrane's rider Oisin Murphy said of the gallant runner-up, now officially one of Britain's leading stayers representing the vintage class of 2022 alone, “He relaxed great and travelled round super. I felt I could go and win the race. Frankie's come with me and it was a good battle and Frankie came out on top.”

Subjectivist was back to his best with a stirring effort which drew the sting from all bar two of his rivals and Charlie Johnston was understandably proud. “He's run a great race,” he said. “I was sort of expecting he would win or we would be out with the washing! It's been a long road and just being here is pretty special. Let's hope he's okay and we can go again.”

Pedigree Notes
Courage Mon Ami becomes the 31st group 1 winner for Frankel, whose presence at this year's Royal Ascot has confirmed his ever-elevating status. The dam Crimson Ribbon, who scored over a mile and a half, has also produced the Listed Chalice S. scorer and G3 Pinnacle S. runner-up Crimson Rosette (Ire), the Australian stakes winner and group 3-placed Astronomos (GB) and the listed-placed Purple Ribbon (GB) all by other sons of Galileo in Teofilo (Ire), New Approach (Ire) and Gleneagles (Ire) respectively.

Crimson Ribbon is a full-sister to Bronze Cannon, who captured the G2 Hardwicke S. at this meeting as well as the G2 Jockey Club S., and to the GIII My Charmer H. scorer Valiant Girl while her half-brother Across The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was successful under Frankie in the 2016 G2 King Edward VII S. The listed-placed second dam Victoria Cross (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) is out of the G2 Park Hill S. runner-up Glowing With Pride (GB) (Ile de Bourbon), whose three other stakes performer are headed by the GII San Marco H. winner and GI Hollywood Turf Cup-placed Prize Giving (GB) (Most Welcome {GB}). Crimson Ribbon also has the stable's once-raced 3-year-old colt Lion's Pride (GB) (Roaring Lion), a 2-year-old filly by Frankel's son Cracksman (GB) named Danielle (GB) and a yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB).

Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
GOLD CUP-G1, £600,000, Ascot, 6-22, 4yo/up, 19f 210yT, 4:20.97, g/f.
1–COURAGE MON AMI (GB), 129, g, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Crimson Ribbon, by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Victoria Cross (Ire), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Glowing With Pride (GB), by Ile De Bourbon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $464,871. *1/2 to Crimson Rosette (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), SW & MGSP-Eng; Astronomos (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), SW & GSP-Aus, $220,908; and Purple Ribbon (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Coltrane (Ire), 130, g, 6, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Promise Me (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (50,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Mick & Janice Mariscotti; B-Rockfield Farm (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £129,000.
3–Subjectivist (GB), 130, h, 6, Teofilo (Ire)–Reckoning (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (62,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Dr Jim Walker; B-Mascalls Stud (GB); T-Charlie Johnston. £64,560.
Margins: 3/4, 3 3/4, HD. Odds: 7.50, 2.75, 4.50.
Also Ran: Emily Dickinson (Ire), Nate The Great (GB), Yibir (GB), Eldar Eldarov (GB), Echoes In Rain (Fr), Lone Eagle (Ire), Broome (Ire), Big Call, Wise Eagle (Ire). Scratched: Tashkhan (Ire), Trueshan (Fr).

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Raced by Dr. Jim Walker, the 6-year-old entire has returned to the races after sustaining a tendon injury later in 2021. Unplaced in the G3 Red Sea Turf H. in Riyadh at the end of February, he was much improved when third in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Mar. 25. He won that Meydan contest in 2021. The G3 Sagaro S. and the G2 Yorkshire Cup later in the spring were under consideration for the Johnston trainee.

“We've had a bit of debate about Sagaros and Yorkshire Cups and things, but the plan now for him, all being well and should we be able to get him there, is to go straight to Ascot,” said Johnston.

“With that in mind he's just swimming and on the water walker at the moment and having an easy couple of weeks before we try to build him back up for the Gold Cup.

“We have a big, black cloud hanging over us every day now since his tendon injury and how long is a piece of string really, we don't know how many bullets are left in the gun for us to fire and with that in mind we don't really want to waste any in races like a Sagaro.

“He's going to be campaigned in the three or four races that we really want to win and, touch wood, he has taken two races in a four-week window quite well.

“But once you've had a tendon injury, that is always something that is hanging over you to some degree and as a result we are only going to go into battle when it matters and the next time that will be, will be the Ascot Gold Cup.”

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Pennington said of the Richard Hannon trainee, “I saw Mojo Star last week and he looks fantastic. He's working away and, touch wood, he's sound and in great form.

“He's moving well and Richard couldn't be happier with him at the moment, so hopefully it's going to be an exciting season for him.”

Second in the 2021 G1 Irish Derby behind Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the entire found that Godolphin runner too good in Doncaster's G1 St Leger that autumn. Unplaced in that year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he stayed on the sidelines for most of 2022, but was only a half-length behind high-class stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's Gold Cup. That rival has sustained a setback and his participation in a Gold Cup defence is unlikely at this time.

Pennington added, “You hate to see horses like Kyprios falling away as while it obviously makes it easier for us, you want to beat those horses on merit.

“We monitor Mojo Star on a daily basis, but at the moment he's going fantastic, he looks a picture and hasn't missed a day. We have made a few plans, but the dream would be to go to Ascot and have another go at the Gold Cup.

“There's lots of options [for a run before then], including the Further Flight at Nottingham in a couple of weeks over a mile and six [furlongs] in soft ground. You've got to remember he's only a maiden winner, so he wouldn't carry a penalty in a race like that.”

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From that controversy to another forgettable afternoon's work for Frankie Dettori, out of luck aboard Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup and The Queen's 2-5 favourite Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Hampton Court S., Brian Sheerin dissects the main talking points from Thursday's action.

Listen To Heffernan – Racing Needs To Wake Up

What needs to happen in Britain and Ireland for the stewards to start protecting riders? Let's not pretend that this is a problem confined to British racing because it is not.

Just last autumn, Shane Foley found himself on the receiving end of a five-day ban for careless riding when partnering No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) to victory in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend.

Race-favourite Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was one of the worst affected by Foley edging to his left aboard the winner and there was genuine dismay from the international audience looking in on our product that the result wasn't changed.

Lessons haven't been learned and there was an element of groundhog day at Ascot when Paul Hanagan veered halfway across the track aboard The Ridler, inconvenienced a number of big-race rivals, but was allowed to keep the G2 Norfolk S.

What you permit, you promote, and the rules, as they are interpreted, meant that The Ridler was never in any real danger of being chucked out.

Seamie Heffernan gave a candid interview to TDN Europe in the immediate aftermath of the farcical contest where he raised the point that riders should have to forfeit their winner's cheque if found guilty of dangerous or careless riding.

In Hanagan's case, he was handed a 10-day riding ban for careless riding, and one can only assume he took that punishment with a smile.

Put simply, there is no deterrent for riding dangerously and, as Heffernan described, a “win-at-all-cost mentality” has crept into racing in recent times.

It begs the question; what needs to happen for the interference rules to be brought into line to reflect what happens in America, Australia and France?

Kia Joorabchian, whose Amo Racing silks were carried by the second and the third–Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire})–was rightly fuming after the race. So, too, was Crispy Cat's trainer Michael O'Callaghan, not to mention the international bettors who got involved on the World Pool.

The damage caused by these farcical decisions pose a serious risk to the sport and Thursday's race should be the wake up call racing needs.

The problem is, this is an alarm bell that has been ringing for a while.

Forgettable Day For Frankie

Yesterday we spoke of how Irad Ortiz's week went from bad to worse and, unfortunately for Frankie Dettori, one of the all-time greats of the weighing room, he had a similarly forgettable day at the office.

John Gosden is not a man who goes around ruffling feathers for no reason but he was clearly disappointed with the ride Dettori gave Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, feeling the legendary rider was too far out of his ground in a slowly-run contest.

“I was a bit surprised that being in the box seat we dropped back so far,” Gosden told ITV Racing. He added, “It would have been nice to be a touch handier, to say the least.”

Dettori was once again out of luck in the Britannia S. when, in another stride or two, he almost certainly would have clinched victory aboard The Queen's Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

At least there was a 2-5 favourite to steer home, eh? Wrong. Reach For The Moon ensured this was a day that would be remembered for all the wrong reasons when, despite being sent off at prohibitively short odds, Gosden's charge fluffed his lines in the G3 Hampton Court S.

It should also be noted that Reach For The Moon represented the third odds-on favourite of the week at Royal Ascot after Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) got the meeting underway as a 1-6 jolly in the G1 Queen Anne S and Bay Bridge(GB) (New Bay {GB}) got turned over at odds of 10-11 in the Prince Of Wales's S. on Wednesday.

Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who runs in the L Chesham S., and short-priced G2 Hardwicke S. fancy Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), are set to start at odds-on for their respective races on Saturday.

That will bring the total number of odds-on shots at this year's Royal meeting to five. There was consternation over the fact that there were five odds-on shots at Cheltenham back in March. Where is the outcry this week?

Stradivarius Going Nowhere

There seems to be an unhealthy obsession, certainly in some quarters of the media, in feeling the need to bring up the prospects of retirement as soon as any top horse appears to be on the wane.

Stradivarius is clearly not the force of old, yet he ran a gallant race to finish third in the G1 Gold Cup behind Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and many felt he was unlucky not to have won.

The most pleasing aspect of the performance, however, was that the old boy seemed to retain all of his enthusiasm for the game, which was evidenced by the live pictures of him strutting out of the parade ring afterwards like the champion that he is.

So why this constant talk of retirement? Stradivarius is a racehorse and, to these eyes at least, he still loves to run.

Judging by his fine effort in defeat, he will go close to winning the G1 Goodwood Cup and there is also the option of travelling to Paris later in the season.

Stradivarius has been masterfully handled by John and Thady Gosden. They will know when the time is right to bring the curtain down on his career. Judging by Thursday's performance, that time doesn't appear to be any time soon.

Brilliant Boughey Continues To Build

It is hard to believe that George Boughey has only recently turned 30. Since sending out his first winner in 2019, Boughey has bagged a breakthrough Classic success this year and sugar-coated what has been a memorable season by adding a Royal Ascot victory to his CV when Inver Park (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) landed the Buckingham Palace S.

Boughey got his training career up and running, by and large, with early 2-year-olds, but the standard of his Newmarket operation has risen dramatically with each season, as we saw when Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) won the G1 1000 Guineas.

Things could get even better for Boughey on Friday when Cachet lines out in the G1 Coronation S., which is shaping up to be one of the races of the week. His stock is not just on the rise, it's sky-rocketing.

Also, it would be remiss not to mention the exploits of Jane Chapple-Hyam this week. Twice the trainer's unmissable white bridle has been carried to victory at the royal meeting, with Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) running out a gritty winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. just 24 hours after Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) bolted up in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S.

Chapple-Hyam's only other runner this week, Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), also ran a cracker to finish second in Wednesday's Royal Hunt Cup.

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Ryan Moore revealed it was far from straightforward afterwards. “It wasn't a nice race to ride,” he said. “I had to move him to the outside and I don't like doing that, but I felt I had to keep Kyprios going. Mojo Star has come to us, but this fella kicked in then and it was comfortable at the line. It wasn't a true test today and I don't think we saw the best of him. It was a more complicated race than it should have been and I think he was much the best. To be fair, Aidan had him earmarked for this a year ago! He knows what he is looking for and identified the right horse in him and it all worked out right.”

Kyprios was burying the memories of his three prior unhappy visits to this country, which had resulted in well-beaten efforts in the 2020 G3 Zetland S. and Listed Lingfield Derby Trial last May and an injury sustained in the stalls before this meeting's G2 Queen's Vase. Unbeaten in Ireland and still a lightly-raced project, the chestnut was tardy from the gates here and possibly further back than Moore would have wanted as Earlofthecotswolds (Fr) (Axxos {Ger}) enjoyed an easy time in front but it was Dettori who had the real issue as Stradivarius was hemmed against the rail and essentially trapped.

As Moore wound up the eventual winner approaching the home bend, Stradivarius was caught behind a wall and as he took a diagonal path to daylight the Willie Mullins raider Burning Victory (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) loomed full of running up the inside route he could have enjoyed had Frankie held his nerve. Mojo Star looked to have pulled off a remarkable training performance from Richard Hannon until deep inside the last furlong, but Kyprios was too strong for a record eighth Gold Cup for Aidan O'Brien. “The horse was very brave,” he said. “We brought him here last year, but he came out underneath the stalls and his back was badly bruised and he didn't get to race any more. He missed the St Leger, so it was always the plan that we would train him with this race in mind and give him two preps for it.”

“He had the same tenacity that he showed all the other times and Ryan was very strong on him. It was great Stradivarius was here–it makes these races even more special and incredible. Kyprios is light-bodied and a good mover who looks after himself and they are all the things that he will need. He did it today and hopefully he can do it in the years to come. He could go to Goodwood next or something like the Irish St Leger.”

Richard Hannon said of Mojo Star, who came so close to emulating Le Moss (Ire) in winning this on his seasonal bow, “The Gold Cup next year will be the plan. He's very manoeuvrable. He can go back to a mile and a half and, now he gets two and a half miles, anything in between. I worked him with my milers–with Lusail and Chindit at Kempton and I thought he might have worked the best and wondered if he ought to be in the Queen Anne, or something! I thought then he might run a big race if he got the trip and he got the trip. It is gutting, it really is galling. We've had too many seconds this week, but it will come. The horse is a real pleasure to be associated with, and his day will come. He's been second in three group ones, now–Derbys, St Legers, Gold Cups; there aren't many of them.”

Reflecting on the deflating experience of watching helpless as Stradivarius became the victim of circumstance once again, John Gosden said, “I was bit surprised from having been in the box seat that we dropped back so far. The problem is when they sprint, you had to come wide to get a run and he had to come widest of all. He had a chance the last furlong and the race slipped on him as they had gone a steady pace. Stradivarius is a great horse to get here and to now run in five Gold Cups–to have the longevity he has had. He came back in and had a neigh, so he seems happy. Great credit to the horse and the owner-breeder to keep him racing. There are younger horses there that are first and second. I just wish we had been a little handier and not had to go through a wall of horses.”

Dettori added, “The younger horses had more legs than me at the end. I had every chance to get them, but they were stronger than me. He's been a great hero and came out flying. I had to pull out wide and the only place I could go was the outside and everything was getting tight. When I've pulled him out plenty of times, usually he's got the electric turn of foot, but he's not four anymore, he's eight. I laboured a bit at the end and I was never going to get them. He has been a star. You have to pass on the baton to the younger ones. He did his best and we're very proud of him.”

Kyprios becomes the third top-level winner for Moyglare's incredible Polished Gem (Ire) (Danehill) alongside his full-sister Search For a Song (Ire), who captured two renewals of the G1 Irish St Leger, and the G1 Prince of Wales's S.-winning sire Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). He is her last known foal, with her tally of eight black-type winners also including the seven-times group scorer Custom Cut (Ire) (Nonowcato {GB}) and the G2 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Kyprios's other two full-siblings are the listed scorer and G2 Blandford S. runner-up Amma Grace (Ire) and last year's Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight (Ire).

Polished Gem is a full-sister to the GI Matriarch S. heroine Dress To Thrill (Ire), with both being out of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Trusted Partner (Affirmed) who is also the third dam of the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The third dam Talking Picture (Speak John) collected the GI Matron S. and GI Spinaway S. before producing five stakes winners, with the G2 Premio Legnano winner Easy To Copy (Affirmed) the ancestress of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Sydney Cup hero Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

Thursday, Ascot, Britain
GOLD CUP-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-16, 4yo/up, 19f 210yT, 4:26.52, g/f.
1–KYPRIOS (IRE), 129, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Polished Gem (Ire) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ire), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Trusted Partner, by Affirmed
3rd Dam: Talking Picture, by Speak John
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Moyglare Stud, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £283,550. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 7-5-0-0, $434,026. *Full to Search For A Song (Ire), 2x Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 14f+, MG1SW-Ire, SW & GSP-Eng, $951,390; Falcon Eight (Ire), SW-Eng & GSP-Ire, $202,827; Amma Grace (Ire), SW & GSP-Ire; and 1/2 to Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Hwt. Older Horse-Eur at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, $926,416; Sapphire (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 11-14f, MGSW & G1SP-Ire, GSW-Eng, $518,947; Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}), Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 7-9.5f, MGSW-Eng & Ire, $951,925; and Valac (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), GSW-Aus, $356,631. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mojo Star (Ire), 129, c, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Galley (GB), by Zamindar. (130,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Barbara Prendergast (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £107,500.
3–Stradivarius (Ire), 130, h, 8, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Private Life (Fr), by Bering (GB). (330,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £53,800.
Margins: HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 1.63, 7.50, 2.00.
Also Ran: Burning Victory (Fr), Tashkhan (Ire), Princess Zoe (Ger), Bubble Smart (GB), Alignak (GB). Scratched: Trueshan (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Kyprios keeps the good times rolling for Moyglare Stud, who co-own this horse with Westerberg, Tabor and Smith, by taking the Gold Cup. Stradivarius finishes third but there were some traffic issues. Would he have won with a clear run? pic.twitter.com/wpoDFph9La

— TDN (@theTDN) June 16, 2022

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Gosden's Corner

John Gosden was also keen to use a boxing analogy as he held court to the press in the build-up. “He's an old pro now, he goes in the ring, does what he has to do and comes home,” he said. “His regime [is] a little bit mixed up, but don't go trying to make anything tougher or harder for him–that does not go down very well at all. He was probably in his prime at five maybe into six, but at eight you have to face the fact that it's like a boxer getting back in the ring too late in his career sometimes. He's up for it and the plan was always to try to run at Ascot and Goodwood and we're sticking to the plan as long as he's with us and he is at the moment.”

The Contender

If 2021 was Stradivarius's version of rope-a-dope, Thursday could see him throw those combinations that have set him apart from the 210 opponents he has mastered down the years. Every great bout needs a significant opponent and with Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) almost certainly out of the equation, that is Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Half the Nielsen runner's age and as vibrant and menacing as it gets, he hails from a Ballydoyle stable that specialises in fostering the power of its heavyweights. He is the Foreman or Frazier, intent on destruction from the front coming off a 14-length win in Leopardstown's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. May 13. Surging to the fore in Navan's Listed Vintage Crop S. Apr. 23, the chestnut who sports the Moyglare silks has one problem as he enters Stradivarius's back garden. His three visits to England have resulted in no-shows in the 2020 G3 Zetland S. and Listed Lingfield Derby Trial last May and a panic in the stalls before this meeting's G2 Queen's Vase which injured him. As Foreman was lost in Zaire, will it be the case that Kyprios's strength is diminished by unfamiliar terrain?

In Battaash's Shadow

Kicking off the action is the G2 Norfolk S., where Ballydoyle are again prominent with the super-charged The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). His full-brother Battaash (Ire), so dominant in deepest Sussex and virtually unbeatable elsewhere, took four goes to win here and was successful only once in five appearances at Royal Ascot. Aidan O'Brien has talked about keeping a lid on the grey ahead of this examination and while he has hardly been electric at Tipperary and Naas, it may be that he is about to cut loose.

Precedent Set For Walbank

Tuesday saw Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) convert the currency gained from a wide-margin prep win at York into success in the prestigious G2 Coventry S. and Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Star Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) bids to do the same in the Norfolk after scoring by seven lengths on the Knavesmire May 22. The Coventry was robbed of the high-class Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who had beaten Walbank over this course and distance May 7, but Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) did the form a great service having been fourth on that occasion behind the talented duo and another of this race's protagonists in Redemption Time (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}). The latter represents Dalham Hall Stud's first-season sire, while Coolmore's Sioux Nation has both Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Apr. 27 Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions S. winner Bakeel (GB) and Brian Goodyear's six-length Apr. 23 Doncaster maiden scorer Brave Nation (Ire) to fly his flag.

Within Reach

As far as the Royalists are concerned, the best is saved for second last on Thursday with The Queen's Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) set to go off very short in the penultimate G3 Hampton Court S. Frankie's Royal Ascot has been one to forget so far and if Stradivarius can turn things around at 4:20p he will be perfectly teed up for this grand climax. Off the board on Wednesday, Jane Chapple-Hyam looks to provide the sternest opposition with Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), whose second in the G3 Craven S. Apr. 13 was followed by a nightmare trip in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 15, where the combination of a wide draw and over-racing put paid to any chance.

“I'm not afraid to wreck the Queen's Platinum Jubilee–it will be 'off with her head' if I do,” she joked. “It is an interesting race, as clearly the Queen's horse is the favourite and Frankie Dettori and John Gosden have been very bold about that. I think that is their banker and many people's banker of the week. When Claymore was second in the Craven, the third horse Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) was subsequently second in the [G1] Derby and people are forgetting that. I think he has got a bit of a squeak.”

The Road Most Taken

The G2 Ribblesdale S. unfortunately has no Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), but in Sunderland Holding's Sea Silk Road (GB) it has another daughter of the Gilltown Stud giant who could yet make waves. There is little in the form of her narrow success in Goodwood's May 20 Listed Height of Fashion S. that suggests she is worthy of her cramped odds, but of course we are talking about a lightly-raced William Haggas-trained filly and the trend of late has been for punters to follow blind. Zhang Yuesheng's Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has an experience edge and Jessie Harrington has been waiting patiently since her second in Navan's Listed Salsabil S. over a mile and a quarter on Apr. 23.

Songs Stays At Home

As expected, Moyglare Stud's brilliant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was not confirmed  for Friday's G1 Coronation S. with the hot and dry forecast remaining in place until at least Saturday. Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will face 11 rivals, including the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}).

Click here for the group fields.

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“We felt that to be ready in time for Ascot he'd have to go back into work now and as it's really only eight months since the injury was sustained-we don't feel it's quite long enough,” said Johnston. “We've taken the difficult decision to write this year off. He's very well in himself, but we want to give the injury the best chance of withstanding training when he comes back into full work. The longer he has off the better chance we stand, so we've had to weigh that up.

“It's very tough to leave your best horse on the sidelines for the season and we just hope we can make up for lost time in 2023.”

A winner of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak when signing off in 2020, the bay took the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup night last year by 5 3/4 lengths prior to a five-length domination in the Gold Cup on June 17. The Dr. Jim Walker runner sustained an injury to his right foreleg in July of 2021, and has not been in action since.

“We'll probably aim towards Saudi Arabia this time next year and lead into Dubai and Ascot again,” added Johnston. “He's been swimming and on the water walker for six months now and he'll continue his current regime for the next couple of months before being turned out for the summer.”

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Trainer Mark Johnston said, “He's got an injury and it's certainly season-ending. There was no secret that the horse had filling in his left foreleg in Dubai straight after the race [G2 Dubai Gold Cup] and we got a hell of a fright from that. Visually, that was a career-ending injury.

“Within 24 hours he'd got a reasonably clean bill of health and within a month he'd got a complete clean bill of health, which was very unusual for that type of situation. Everything went perfectly well and there were no issues going into the Ascot Gold Cup or afterwards.

“But on Monday he had filling in the opposite leg. Because the left foreleg had been so atypical and he'd come back from that, we hoped it would be the same with the other leg, but it didn't. It's absolutely heartbreaking. The only positive we can take from it is that at least he did get the opportunity to show us what he could do.

“Those of us that were there in Dubai thought that was a phenomenal performance and at least it was confirmed in what I like to think was one of the best Ascot Gold Cups in recent days. I don't know [if he'll run again].”

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