ROYAL ASCOT 15-19 June
Coverage: First five races daily on BBC TV and BBC Sport website (UK users only), big-race commentaries on BBC Radio 5 live Results:bbc.co.uk/racing
Rite of Passage wins Gold Cup Rite of Passage caused a big upset in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, outpacing Age of Aquarius in the final furlong of the two-and-a-half mile Group 1 race. After Yeats' four wins in the race, Age of Aquarius was bidding to pick up the baton for the Ballydoyle operation. But Rite of Passage (20-1), trained by Dermot Weld in Ireland and delivered late by Pat Smullen, was too good. Earlier, Approve (16-1) was a surprise winner of the Norfolk Stakes while the Ribblesdale Stakes was won by Hibaayeb. Approve had only finished fourth in his race at Epsom on Derby day, but the William Haggas-trained two-year-old travelled strongly in the hands of Eddie Ahern before being pushed up to challenge for the lead passing the two-furlong marker. Reckless Reward finished strongly to fill the runner-up spot but was a length and a quarter adrift at the line. Excel Bolt ran a fine race to grab third after racing alone towards the stands' side throughout.  | 606: DEBATE |
Haggas said: "It was probably trainer instructions that got him beat at Epsom last time because he was drawn on the outside and had to drop in. "You always like to have runners at Royal Ascot but I was cursing myself this morning because I thought we should have run in the Windsor Castle, but fortunately we've been all right." The second race of the day was a good one for those supporting the blue Godolphin colours worn by Frankie Dettori. Hibaayeb, so disappointing on her seasonal bow in the 1,000 Guineas, was always travelling smoothly in the mile-and-a-half contest for three-year-old fillies. And when Dettori asked the 4-1 joint favourite to deliver a big finish, she did just that, leaving Eldalil and Gallic Star some distance behind in second and third. Dettori said: "I know my way around here. I had the horse to do it for me and she gave me a fabulous ride. It's nice to win a big one on Ladies' Day so the team is happy and we're all happy." Those two Group 2 races served as perfect warm-up fare on a stunning summer's day in Berkshire for the Gold Cup, which had attracted 13 entries.  Pat Smullen (R) sends Rite of Passage on his victory bid in the Gold Cup |
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Ask was sent off a well-supported 11-4 favourite. But having travelled well to the turn for home, his stamina was soon found wanting. Another leading fancy was Yorkshire Cup winner Manifest, trained by five-time Gold Cup-winning trainer Henry Cecil. But his race was run long before the finish. Instead, Johnny Murtagh was the one of the few jockeys with petrol left in the tank as the four-year-old Age of Aquarius made his bid for glory. But he was tracked down by Smullen on Rite of Passage, a six-year-old who had won his two previous starts on the Flat, but was last seen finishing third in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. His form over hurdles appeared to have done him the world of good as he won on fast ground by a neck, setting a new course record. Purple Moon, trained by Luca Cumani and ridden by Kieren Fallon, finished third. Winning trainer Weld said: "The plan was hatched a long time ago. It's a race I've always wanted to win and two previous runners, Vinnie Roe and Vintage Crop, finished second so I thought it could be third time lucky.  The weather was absolutely perfect for Ladies' Day at Ascot |
"We had a good draw and obviously we discussed it with Pat, he's a world class rider and I totally left the decisions to Pat how to ride the horse." The winner was given a 10-1 quote for the Melbourne Cup by William Hill, a race Weld has won twice before. "I think I had the favourite for that race before today in Profound Beauty, she also beat Age Of Aquarius," added the 61-year-old County Kildare handler. "It's a long way away but it's always been a target of mine for this horse as well." The second most valuable race of the day, the Britannia Stakes, was picked up by Barry and Michael Hills with Ransom Note (9-1). Successful with Equiano in the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday, the father and son duo struck with the Raymond Mould-owned colt. In the Hampton Court Stakes Afsare (9-4 favourite) gave trainer Cumani his first winner of the meeting, with Kieren Fallon on board. And the last race of the day went to James Given's Dandino. The three-year-old continued his rapid improvement with a stirring victory for the Elite Racing Club in the King George V Stakes.
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?