2008

IT is 31 years since Sagaro won his third and final Ascot Gold Cup in the hands of Lester Piggott. With out-and-out stayers not as fashionable in the interim, many experts said that no horse would ever complete the hat-trick again.

However, as the weather remained kind on Ladies Day, Yeats took that theory apart and simply demolished the opposition, passing the post five lengths ahead of old rival Geordieland. It was nearly as far back to French challenger Coastal Path, who was found wanting in the final two furlongs.

Yeats is a magnificent racehorse, a throwback to the old days, and a credit to Aidan O’Brien. He has now won this race for three different jockeys – Kieren Fallon, Michael Kinane and Johnny Murtagh – and looks as good as ever at the age of seven. To see him power away from a rejuvenated Geordieland, when the latter had the temerity to move alongside in the closing stages, was to witness a thorough professional going about his work with more than a touch of arrogance.

By and large, favourite backers gave the bookmakers a fair old pasting on Wednesday, but they were not the only ones cheering. Royal Ascot needed Yeats, and he was not about to let anyone down. So, Murtagh returned to the winner’s enclosure soon after 3.45pm on each of the first three days, but this was probably his best ride.

As Le Miracle made the running with Finalmente in close attendance, Coastal Path travelled very easily just behind them. Running out of Swinley Bottom, Stephane Pasquier still looked comfortable, at which point Murtagh decided the game should be about stamina, and moved up on his outer. With Geordieland coming to join them, the three settled down to fight out the finish, and Coastal Path was the first to crack.

Irresistible

Perhaps, given his time again, Shane Kelly would arrive later on Geordieland, who was still going well.

However, Yeats kept on in irresistible style, though it was only in the final 150 yards that the issue was decided. Geordieland saw things out better this time and Jamie Osborne will bring him back for the King George. Coastal Path held third from Allegretto, with the Godolphin pair Sagara and Regal Flush just behind.

O’Brien and John Magnier have still to decide Yeats’ future. ‘‘I can’t put the win into words,’’ the trainer said. ‘‘When he came and won one Gold Cup I couldn’t believe it, but then to come back and win another, and another, is even harder to believe. He is unique. Horses don’t do the sort of things he’s done unless they are special.” O’Brien also referred to Yeats’ lungs and heart, the size of both – physical and metaphorical – being key ingredients.

Murtagh concurred. ‘‘He has the heart of a lion, and I knew he would kill them,’’ he said. The jockey is riding so many big race winners that it must sometimes be hard to distinguish between them, but he repeatedly saluted the crowd on his way back to the unsaddling enclosure, and there is no doubt Yeats occupies a special place in his affections. Quite how Fallon feels about it all, one can scarcely imagine.

Historic fourth

Yeats, ante-post Derby favourite in a different lifetime, is still an entire and will probably join the ranks of Coolmore stallions sooner rather than later, so taking a short price about an historic fourth Gold Cup might be rash. On the subject of timing, part-owner Magnier admitted he was unsure.

‘‘He’ll be eight next year so it would be like a grandad getting married!’’ he said. ‘‘It’ll be interesting, but it’ll be a hard call. From the point of view of racing, you need horses like him.’’

Amen to that.

[We now know that Yeats did come back, and won an historic fourth Gold Cup. He retired to stud with a record of 15 wins and five places in 26 starts, and he also recorded Group 1 wins in The Irish Field St Leger, the Coronation Cup and the Prix Royal-Oak.

At stud he was crowned champion sire in 2021-22, and again last season, and yet he stood this season for just €5,000 at Castlehyde Stud. His leading performers are Grade 1/A winners Flooring Porter, Conflated, Figuero, Tudor City, Chantry House, Shattered Love, The Goffer, Longhouse Poet, Augusta Kate, Capivari, and Grade 2/B winners Hang In There, Younevercall, Kilfenora, Noble Yeats, Party Central, Lady Breffni, Heaven Help Us, Master Debonair and Some Neck.

He has also sired a Group 2 winner on the flat]

Business as usual for Curlin

2008

IT was a case of business as usual on Saturday for Curlin, who produced a sterling performance at Churchill Downs.

We have just been reminded of the Triple Crown’s unique demands on a three-year-old, and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap presented two distinct challenges for the year-older superstar; one a strong feature of past eras, the other a byproduct of modern racing’s global face.

New hurdles or old, it made no difference to Curlin, who appeared free of any ill-effects from his round trip to Dubai. The big colt shouldered 128lb, giving an accomplished field up to 15lb, and won the nine-furlong race by four and a quarter lengths. As the centrepiece of a superb June 14th programme, Churchill Downs boosted the Stephen Foster purse to $1 million in response to Curlin’s expected participation.

Deliberate

Drawn down in post one, the Horse of the Year was easily into his stride and remained down on the rail as Barcola led the field with a deliberate early pace.

Though Curlin has shown a preference for racing outside of horses, Robby Albarado ably navigated him through a generous opening just off the rail. Once in gear, Curlin cruised past Barcola with three-sixteenths of a mile to run, finishing more than two seconds off Victory Gallop’s track mark under a steady ride.

For the first time, Helen Pitts saddled a horse in the same race as Curlin since his private sale out of her stable. Ironically, a state licensing complication for one of Curlin’s original owners prevented Einstein from competing in the Manhattan Handicap on Belmont Stakes day.

So, with the New York trip postponed, and the Arlington Million his trainer’s primary summer goal, Einstein entered the Stephen Foster ready for a good run. Carrying 10lb less than Curlin, the veteran, ridden by Julien Leparoux, secured second by a nose. Barcola finished third.

‘‘I was surprised by such a large weight assignment,’’ said Curlin’s co-owner Jess Jackson, who expressed a wish to see the son of Smart Strike further his legacy in ways other than conceding so many pounds. ‘‘What he stands for is a classic champion, and we’ll see how great he is because he is not fully defined.’’ That bold initiative may very well include a second trip overseas, this time with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the sights of Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen.

A possible first step toward the European classic, which would include a prep race at Longchamp itself, is Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Man O’ War, rescheduled on this year’s calendar for July 12th and, as usual, run under weight-for-age conditions.

[Curlin was beaten by Red Rocks in the Man O’ War, won the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Cup, and for the only time in his 16-race career, was out of the first three when fourth to Raven’s Pass in tbe Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He retired to Lane’s End Farm at a fee of $75,000, which dropped quite quickly to $25,000. He moved to Hill ‘N’ Dale Stud at a fee of $100,000 in 2016, and this has grown to a new high of $225,000 this year.

He is the sire of 53 graded stakes winners, and a total of 95 stakes winners. His Grade 1 winners include, in order of earnings, Vino Rosso,, Malahat, Exaggerator, Keen Ice, Clairiere, Good Magic, Stellar Wind, Palace Malice, Elite Power, Cody’s Wish, Nest, Curalina, Obligatory, Connect, and Global Campaign]

Waratah wins for rising star Ryan

2013

SHANAHOE in Laois was the venue for last Sunday’s Midlands meeting, and the local supporters had plenty to cheer about as Seamus Bergin’s Waratah took the 14.2hh race in the hands of Rossa Ryan.

The youngster elected to make all the running, and collected in fine style without their lead ever coming under threat, with Penny Lane running a fine race in second under his mandatory six and a half kilo penalty. Ryan then doubled up by taking the 15hh race for Denis Lyons on Jeckyl N Hyde.

In good form following a runner-up finish in Newmarket the previous week, Ryan sat the winner in fourth position early on in a strong run race, before hitting the front before the turn-in and striding clear.

Danny Sheehy was also to record a double as he tightened his dominance of the smaller pony classes. Raynusa made it four from four as he took the combined 13hh/13.2hh race for Waterford owner Michael Moloney. Sheehy quickly put the race to bed three furlongs out as they sprinted clear of the toiling chasers led home by Cheeky Charlie. Sheehy had to work harder in the 14hh race as Pat Collins’ Black Wolf got back to winning ways after throwing away her chance at the start last week.

The other pony race on the card saw the Going Broke Syndicate’s Take That resume winning ways under Ballinasloe rider Luke Bleahen. While the Mark Crehan-ridden Bye Rio kept him company early on, they couldn’t sustain the pace as the winner kept up the relentless gallop to win from One Of The Boys.

[Ten years later and Rossa Ryan has twice visited the winners’ enclosure at Royal Ascot, taking his tally there to three. This week’s wins came in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on Valiant Force, and in the Royal Hunt Cup on Jimi Hendrix.

Previous group race wins for Ryan have been gained on River Of Stars, Max Vega, Go Bears Go, Persian Force, Hello You, Kinross, and Duke Of Hazzard]