Kyprios stamped himself as the star of the staying show in Europe with a hard fought triumph over the gallant front running Trawlerman in Royal Ascot’s centrepiece, the Gold Cup.
The Aidan O’Brien galloper was winning Europe’s greatest staying contest for the second time in his career, showing all the guts and determination of a champion as he fought out an enthralling battle with the Godolphin runner Trawlerman down the straight.
Two of the world’s best jockeys, Ryan Moore on the winner, William Buick on the runner up, asked for no quarter and none was received as the Ballydoyle inmate prevailed by a length, with the John and Thady Gosden trained Sweet William, a relative newcomer at the highest level of staying racing, picking up the pieces to run third under Rab Havlin.
It would be unusual for the first two to be aimed at anything other than Europe’s most prestigious staying events for the rest of the season, but the Willie Mullins trained Vauban, beaten favourite in the Melbourne Cup last year, could well be on the plane Down Under in a few months time.
Vauban, ridden here by Irish champion jockey Colin Keane, cantered throughout the 4000 metre contest and came to join issue with the two leaders some 600 metres out.
But as the principals went into the ”red zone” where all their stamina reserves were called into play the Mullins runner’s petrol guage was flickering on empty and he faded to finish fourth.
Afterwards his flamboyant owner Rich Ricci admitted that his dual purpose gelding (earlier in his career a winner over hurdles) simply did not stay the marathon trip.
But he was enthusiastic about the prospects of a return to Flemington, declaring that little in the racing world would give him more pleasure than winning the Melbourne Cup.
Mullins concurred, suggesting that Vauban might have one or perhaps two more races before being set for a trip back to Melbourne
Earlier in the day the Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combination, successful with Kyprios, also tasted triumph in the group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes with Port Fairy.
That was as close to an Australian win there was on the third day of the Royal Meeting, as the daughter of Australia, named after the seaside Victorian town, showed similar guts and tenacity to Kyprios in fighting back to stave off the challenge of outsider Lava Stream in the 2400 metre contest.
James Doyle struck for his new stable retainer Wathnan Racing when he landed the opening race, the 1000 metre Norfolk Stakes, for trainer Kevin Burke aboard Shareholder, who made it two wins from two starts.
The Ralph Beckett trained Going The Distance did just that when he landed the 2400 metre handicap for three year olds, the King George V Stakes, seeing of outsiders Neski Sherelski and Go Daddy. This is just the sort of contest that will produce any number of horses who are likely to find Australian buyers at some point in the next 12 months given the popularity of British and Irish stayers in Australia.
The Britannia Stakes, a 1600 metre handicap for three year olds with 30 odd runners, is always one of the most difficult races of the week in which to find a placegetter, never mind a winner.
This time round the winner was the northern trained Mickley at the relatively short price of 15/2 ($8.50), the three year old giving Middleham based Ed Bethell and his jockey, Callum Rodriguez, their first ever Royal Ascot victories.
Sean Levey, successful in the group 1 St James Palace Stakes on the opening day with Rosallion, struck once more when the Brian Meehan galloper Jayarebe, took out the group 3 Hampton Court Stakes while Doyle landed a double for Wathnan when English Oak landed the 29 runner 1400 metre handicap that concluded the day easily in the style of a rapidly improving sort.
Given that he went off at 100/30 ($4.33) he sent any punters staring at a loss home in a happy mood.