With Aidan O’Brien now one far from Sir Michael Stoute’s Royal Ascot record of 82 winners, we have a look at a few of the Ballydoyle handler’s finest winners.
Giant’s Causeway – St James’s Palace Stakes (2000 )
On the back of 2 gallant second-placed efforts in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, Giant’s Causeway would provide Aiden O’Brien his very first Group One winner at Royal Ascot.
Dispatched the 7/2 preferred in the hands of Mick Kinane, he was constantly up with the rate and was sent out for house rounding Swinley Bottom and revealed his fighting quality by lasting house to win by a head.
Mick Kinane flights Giant’s Causeway to a narrow triumph in the St. James’s Palace Stakes
This would be the start of a wonderful summer season for him as he would then go on to take the Eclipse, Sussex Stakes, Juddmonte International and the Irish Champ Stakes.
Identified the iron horse, he was retired to stud at the end of that season after a narrow defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and sired numerous champs consisting of Shamardal, Footstepsinthesand and Ascot Gold Cup winner Initiation rite.
Johannesburg – Norfolk Stakes (2001 )
The Cartier two-year-old Champ European Colt, Johannesburg revealed the world his electrical turn of foot and put the race to bed within a matter of strides.
On simply his 2nd start, he was limited early by Mick Kinane up until letting the handbrake off and drifted to a smooth success in supreme design.
He would then go on to tape-record 4 Group One successes that season varying from 6 to 10 furlongs culminating in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Johannesburg would just run 3 more times the list below season consisting of when beaten in the Kentucky Derby prior to going to stand at stud in the United States and later on Japan.
Rock Of Gibraltar – St James’s Palace Stakes (2002 )
Running in the colours of Sir Alex Ferguson, Rock Of Gibraltar was trying to find vengeance at the Royal conference with stablemate Landseer, who beat him in the Coventry Stakes in 2001.
Sir Alex Ferguson leads in Rock of Gibraltar
Off the back of success in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, he was trying to find his 3rd Group One within 6 weeks and was dispatched a red hot 4/6 preferred.
Under just hands and heels riding, he struck the front with a furlong to choose his previous Ascot conqueror Landseer routing in his wake.
Rock of Gibraltar, Mick Kinane and Sir Alex Ferguson
Few horses would have had the ability to carry out at the greatest level within a brief area of time which is testimony to the training abilities of O’Brien.
Yeats – Gold Cup (2009 )
A location in history would wait for Yeats as he was bidding to end up being the very first horse to win 4 Ascot Gold Cups.
Yeats powers away to win another Gold Cup at Royal Ascot
Geordieland was aiming to turn the tables after filling the runner-up area for the 2 previous years and was intending to ruin the fairy tale.
Johnny Murtagh drove Yeats to put his head into the lead with half a mile to run however it was Patkai and Ryan Moore who began closing in the last furlong.
A statue of Yeats in the Royal Ascot parade ring
The post can be found in time though and Yeats had actually reworded the history books. He went on to end up being an effective National Hunt Stallion and sired 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats.
So You Believe – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2012 )
A five-time Group One winner in Australia, So You Believe was purchased by Coolmore after ending up 3rd in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
On the back of winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup for the 2nd time, he went off an effectively fancied 4/5 preferred to tape-record his very first triumph at Royal Ascot
So You Believe wins at Royal Ascot.
Having actually taken a trip efficiently into the race, Carlton Home loomed up as a risk however it was So You Believe’s rely on ruin the celebration by rejecting Her Majesty The Queen a Royal winner.
This would be the last time the Australian champ was seen on a racecourse however his fantastic worldwide record would never ever be forgotten.
Caravaggio – Commonwealth Cup (2017 )
Having actually won at the conference when winning the Coventry Stakes the year prior, it was not a surprise to see Caravaggio go off at 5/6 for double Ascot triumph.
A strong Godolphin difficulty in the shape of Mill Reef winner Harry Angel & & Gimcrack victor Blue Point weren’t going to make things simple.
Caravaggio ridden by Ryan Moore wins the Commonwealth Cup
Following Adam Kirby’s every carry on Harry Angel, Ryan Moore requested for optimum effort from Caravaggio inside the last furlong prior to overcoming the Godolphin duo.
It was a race for the ages as Harry Angel went onto ended up being a double Group One winner, whilst Blue Point finished the uncommon double by winning the King’s Stand and the Diamond Jubilee in the very same week 2 years later on.
