With all the majesty of a Joe Root cover drive, Aidan O’Brien brought up his own century of Royal Ascot winners as an inspired Ryan Moore lifted Scandinavia to a thrilling victory in a vintage renewal of the Ascot Gold Cup.
It was the irrepressible O’Brien’s 10th success in the week’s blue riband event in 30 years of life at Ballydoyle, and it came at the expense of the reigning champion Trawlerman who gallantly gave his all trying to defend his title under William Buick.
Those critics of the staying division were answered in emphatic fashion as the two powerhouses, with four years between them, fought out a rousing final two furlongs like fighters slugging out the final round of a heavyweight bout.
It seemed fitting that O’Brien’s greatness was again confirmed by a great race and he was typically modest about reaching the record-breaking landmark after witnessing a magnificent duel in the sun.
‘It is an honour and a privilege for me to be involved with the team and be the small part that I am with everybody. The reality is everyone puts in the work, we watch it going on, and I can’t tell you how grateful we are to everybody,’ said O’Brien.
‘Ryan was incredible on Scandinavia – he nursed him and nursed him. He got him into a position where he wanted him for one last surge.
Aidan O’Brien capped his 100th winner at Royal Ascot in style to claim the Ascot Gold Cup
‘That’s just incredible really (100 Royal Ascot winners). It is something that we wouldn’t dream of thinking about, because for that to happen you could not believe.
‘Even this week, it’s literally one race at a time and you don’t even think what it could be or whether it could happen because it’s so competitive, so hard to win races here.’
Moore, who was completing a double following the earlier success of Enceladas, was quick to pay tribute to his legendary trainer: ‘Aidan identifies these horses and brings them here absolutely jumping out of their skins. I am lucky to ride them.
‘The answer with Aidan is he won’t care (about 100 Royal Ascot winners). He will probably be thinking about the next 100. That is what separates him.
‘Scandinavia should have won easier! I was happy where I was and then Oisin (Murphy) came up around me.
‘I didn’t want us all going three in a line, which then he took me out of the race, and I’ve had to work to get to Trawlerman.
‘I thought I had it and then had to go again. Trawlerman is a brave horse, he kept coming.’
John Gosden, trainer of the runner-up and third-home Sweet William, said: ‘He’s an eight-year-old now, taking on a brilliant, talented new boy on the block, and he’s run an unbelievable race.
‘The fact he’s done this having been so ill is quite something.
‘He was in intensive care throughout the Easter weekend and to do that as an eight-year-old is a great achievement.
‘It was the most exciting race to watch, a phenomenal finish between two magnificent stayers. When the staying division is like that, it’s beyond exciting.’
It was a fitting reminder, if any was needed, that the Ascot Gold Cup and races of its ilk, really matter.
There was also a thrilling finish in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes when the William Haggas-trained Earthshot, ridden by James Doyle, collared Johanna Walsh and Dylan Brown McMonagle in the shadows of the post.
It was the first leg of a 94-1 Group race double for Doyle who also partnered Generic to a length triumph in the Hampton Court Stakes.
