Yeats writes name into Ascot history

GENERATIONS have come and gone since the inaugural running of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 1807, but few will have seen anything as special as the record-equalling victory of Yeats yesterday.

Johnny Murtagh's mount was sent off the 11-8 favourite to add to his wins of 2006 and 2007 in the Royal Ascot highlight, and overcame Geordieland in an enthralling finish to the two-and-a-half-mile marathon to win by five-length success.

Aidan O'Brien, winning his fourth Group One race of the week, was stunned after his entry became just the second horse to capture three Gold Cups, emulating Sagaro's achievements between 1975 and 1977.

"The lads at home did a great job to get him here for one Gold Cup and then he came back for a second one and now a third one – it's unbelievable. He's a great mover with massive lungs and a massive heart."

Yeats claims memorable hat-trick with Gold Cup win

Peter Allison

AIDAN O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh bagged their fourth Group 1 of the week as Yeats stole the show on day three of the Royal meeting at Ascot.

Ballydoyle's brilliant stayer showed his tenacity to record a third successive win in the Gold Cup, matching the achievements of Sagaro, who won the race between 1975 and 1977.

Murtagh initially sat a little off the early pace, set by Le Miracle, before sending Yeats to the front around half-a-mile from home.

Stephane Pasquier, alive to the threat, soon sent market rival Coastal Path in pursuit and that pair briefly looked to be going the better as they swung for home, with Jamie Osborne's Geordieland also travelling strongly in third.

The latter actually took over soon after the principals turned in and appeared in command until Yeats dug deep to regain the initiative. Having got back in front there was no stopping O'Brien's top stayer and he powered on to defeat a leg-weary Geordieland by five lengths, with Coastal Path taking third place.

"It's unbelievable and I didn't really think it would happen," beamed an elated O'Brien after Yeats had justified favouritism at 11-8. "It's down to a lot of hard work from a lot of people and Johnny gave him a wonderful ride. He got him into a great rhythm before letting him go and his timing was perfect."

Murtagh said: "He stays the trip well, he has the heart of a lion and I knew that. He has big lungs and I knew that if we got there at the four-marker it would take something special to beat him."

Asked about the possibility of a record-breaking fourth triumph for Yeats next year, O'Brien said: "I don't know when the time will come to preserve his genes and that is the reality as we've never had a horse with as big a pair of lungs and as big a heart as he has – they are physical things.

"This is very special for everybody involved. I am very privileged to have these special horses to train."

John Gosden and Jimmy Fortune had gone close with Raven's Pass behind Henrythenavigator on Tuesday and they combined to hit the target with Michita in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Riding for the same connections, Stonerside Stable, Fortune enjoyed a smooth passage and always had matters in hand as Michita flew home to slam Arthur's Girl by three-and-a-half lengths.

Lightning struck twice for Howard Johnson, Robert Winston and Graham Wylie as they secured the Norfolk Stakes with 11-4 favourite South Central – three years after Masta Plasta bagged the five-furlong event for the same team.

Fifteen Love claimed a 28-1 win in the Britannia Stakes for Roger Charlton and Steve Drowne, while Kerrin McEvoy produced William Haggas' Collection (13-2) fast and late to bag the Hampton Court.

The concluding King George V Handicap went to Sir Michael Stoute's Colony, who came home best of all to give Ryan Moore his first Royal Ascot winner.