With Aidan O’Brien now one away from Sir Michael Stoute’s Royal Ascot report of 82 winners, we check out some of the Ballydoyle handler’s best winners.
Giant’s Causeway – St James’s Palace Stakes (2000)
On the again of two gallant second-placed efforts in each the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, Giant’s Causeway would give Aiden O’Brien his first Group One winner at Royal Ascot.
Sent off the 7/2 favorite in the fingers of Mick Kinane, he was at all times up with the tempo and was despatched for dwelling rounding Swinley Bottom and confirmed his battling high quality by lasting dwelling to win by a head.
Mick Kinane rides Giant’s Causeway to a slim victory in the St. James’s Palace Stakes
This can be the begin of a magical summer season for him as he would then go on to take the Eclipse, Sussex Stakes, Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes.
Labelled the iron horse, he was retired to stud at the finish of that season after a slim defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and sired a number of champions together with Shamardal, Footstepsinthesand and Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage.
Johannesburg – Norfolk Stakes (2001)
The Cartier two-year-old Champion European Colt, Johannesburg confirmed the world his electrical flip of foot and put the race to mattress inside a matter of strides.
On simply his second begin, he was restrained early by Mick Kinane till letting the handbrake off and coasted to a easy success in final model.
He would then go on to report 4 Group One successes that season starting from six to 10 furlongs culminating in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Johannesburg would solely run three extra occasions the following season together with when crushed in the Kentucky Derby earlier than going to stand at stud in the United States and later Japan.
Rock Of Gibraltar – St James’s Palace Stakes (2002)
Running in the colors of Sir Alex Ferguson, Rock Of Gibraltar was trying for revenge at the Royal assembly with stablemate Landseer, who beat him in the Coventry Stakes in 2001.
Sir Alex Ferguson leads in Rock of Gibraltar
Off the again of success in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, he was trying for his third Group One inside six weeks and was despatched off a crimson sizzling 4/6 favorite.
Under solely fingers and heels driving, he hit the entrance with a furlong to go together with his earlier Ascot conqueror Landseer trailing in his wake.
Rock of Gibraltar, Mick Kinane and Sir Alex Ferguson
Not many horses would have been ready to carry out at the highest stage inside a brief area of time and that’s testomony to the coaching abilities of O’Brien.
Yeats – Gold Cup (2009)
A spot in historical past would await Yeats as he was bidding to change into the first horse to win 4 Ascot Gold Cups.
Yeats powers away to win one other Gold Cup at Royal Ascot
Geordieland was trying to flip the tables after filling the runner-up spot for the two earlier years and was aiming to spoil the fairytale.
Johnny Murtagh drove Yeats to put his head into the lead with half a mile to run but it surely was Patkai and Ryan Moore who began closing in the closing furlong.
A statue of Yeats in the Royal Ascot parade ring
The submit got here in time although and Yeats had rewritten the historical past books. He went on to change into a profitable National Hunt Stallion and sired 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats.
So You Think – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2012)
A five-time Group One winner in Australia, So You Think was purchased by Coolmore after ending third in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
On the again of successful the Tattersalls Gold Cup for the second time, he went off a really effectively fancied 4/5 favorite to report his first victory at Royal Ascot.
So You Think wins at Royal Ascot
Having travelled easily into the race, Carlton House loomed up as a hazard but it surely was So You Think’s flip to spoil the celebration by denying Her Majesty The Queen a Royal winner.
This can be the final time the Australian champion was seen on a racecourse however his superb worldwide report would by no means be forgotten.
Caravaggio – Commonwealth Cup (2017)
Having gained at the assembly when successful the Coventry Stakes the yr prior, it was no shock to see Caravaggio go off at 5/6 for twin Ascot victory.
A powerful Godolphin problem in the form of Mill Reef winner Harry Angel & Gimcrack victor Blue Point weren’t going to make issues straightforward.
Caravaggio ridden by Ryan Moore wins the Commonwealth Cup
Following Adam Kirby’s each transfer on Harry Angel, Ryan Moore requested for most effort from Caravaggio inside the closing furlong earlier than getting the higher of the Godolphin duo.
It was a race for the ages as Harry Angel went onto change into a twin Group One winner, while Blue Point accomplished the uncommon double by successful the King’s Stand and the Diamond Jubilee in the similar week two years later.
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