Aidan O'Brien reached a historic milestone at Royal Ascot, becoming the first trainer to saddle 100 winners at the prestigious meeting. The achievement came as Scandinavia, ridden by Ryan Moore, narrowly defeated Trawlerman in a thrilling Gold Cup. O'Brien's first Royal Ascot winner came in 1997 with Harbour Master, and nearly three decades later, he continues to dominate.
Scandinavia's Triumph in the Gold Cup
Scandinavia, a four-year-old son of US Triple Crown winner Justify, edged past defending champion Trawlerman in the closing stages. The eight-year-old Trawlerman seemed poised for victory, but the lack of a prep run may have cost him as Scandinavia surged ahead. O'Brien praised Moore's ride, saying, "Ryan was incredible on Scandinavia, he nursed him and nursed him."
The win marks a generational shift in the staying division, with Scandinavia establishing himself as the new leader. O'Brien noted the competitive nature of the race, stating, "We knew the second horse was a great horse, very brave. He joined him and you don't know until you go past that two-furlong marker what's really going to happen."
O'Brien's Legacy at Royal Ascot
O'Brien's 100 winners place him ahead of Sir Michael Stoute (82) and John Gosden (72) among active trainers. He has also won the trainers' title 13 times, with his son Joseph emerging as a rival this year. O'Brien credited his team, saying, "There are so many people involved to help a horse get this far."
Scandinavia was backed relentlessly by punters, starting as the 11-8 favorite. The biggest reported bet was £120,000 at 5-2. O'Brien reflected on the atmosphere, saying, "The crowd was very big and the cheer went up... the noise got louder and louder."
Moore's Tribute to O'Brien
Moore, riding his 96th winner at Royal Ascot, praised O'Brien's ability to prepare horses. "Aidan identifies these horses and brings them here absolutely jumping out of their skins," Moore said. "The answer with Aidan is he won't care about the 100 winners. He will probably be thinking about the next 100."
Friday's Tips and Highlights
Tony Bloom's filly Venetian Sun is tipped for the Commonwealth Cup, having won the Sandy Lane Stakes impressively. Other tips include Sun Goddess, Mondo Man, Precise, and Quiet Mutiny. Greg Wood's selections feature Gold Digger as the nap and Quiet Mutiny as the next best.
