Ascot Gold Cup report & analysis | Subjectivist strikes Gold for Fanning
Subjectivist dethroned the king Stradivarius by denying him a fourth Gold Cup at Ascot on Thursday after the hot 5/6 favourite suffered all kinds of trouble in running.
As they rounded the turn for home Stradivarius was in a pocket amongst horses on the rail and at that point Joe Fanning was going clear on the front end on the eventual winner.
Subjectivist stalked Amhran Na Bhfiann throughout and took over with half a mile to go, Mark Johnston’s 13/2 chance streaking clear in the home straight giving the pursuers no chance.
Princess Zoe (28/1) ran on for second with Spanish Mission (7/1) third and Stradivarius running on well for fourth – to his great credit – after so much had gone wrong at the crucial point in the race.
Stradivarius was bidding to emulate the great Yeats who won this race for the fourth year running in 2009, but Subjectivist's trainer knows a thing or two about multiple Gold Cup winners himself having trained Royal Rebel to a double success in this contest at the turn of the century.
He also trained the superb stayer Double Trigger, who won this race in 1995.
Click here for a review of the rest of day three at Royal Ascot
'His preparation wasn't smooth'
The Middleham handler said: “He was on the up last winter, he won the Group One in France on heavy ground which made people think he wanted heavy ground.
“When he went to Dubai and won on fast ground, he put up the performance of his life, so I knew coming here – but I couldn’t be confident – that if he could reproduce that he would take an awful lot of beating.
“Someone asked me earlier if he would lead, but we never tell the jockeys what to do, we always go a pace to suit our horse and when he’s sitting second like today, in a nice rhythm, I thought it was perfect.
“With half a mile to go we were in unknown territory, but Joe hadn’t asked for an effort and we knew from Dubai how he can finish off.”
He added: “The preparation wasn’t smooth, 45 minutes after his race in Dubai he was stood in a stable on one leg and we thought it was really serious and then last week he fell over in Middleham, scraping his knees and the only positive I could take was that Attraction did the same before winning the Queen Mary!
“I think we’ll look at the Goodwood Cup. We’ll have an eye on the winter in Dubai and Saudi given the money on offer. The number one thing, I think, will be to work back from this next year.”
Tremendous reception for Fanning
Weighing-room veteran Fanning was afforded a tremendous reception by racegoers and his fellow riders on his return to the winner’s enclosure.
He said: “He’s a very straightforward horse, very uncomplicated, and he did all the hard work.
“I just let horses find their own comfort zone. He can be a little keen, but with every race he’s getting more relaxed. I always say to Mark it’s better off letting him jump and find his own rhythm.
“It was a steady pace, but he relaxed which helped. Six (furlongs) out I started to push a little and I was never going to take him back.
“It was nice to see the lads come out of the weighing room to welcome me in, it’s nice to come here and win a big race.
“Having the crowd back is great.”
Princess set for Cadran
Of the immediate Stradivarius reaction, John Gosden said: “It didn’t go to plan.
“I thought the winner was most impressive, but we were a long way back, had the filly beside us and couldn’t get out.”
Princess Zoe ran a huge race on ground that would have been quick enough for her, leaving Mullins rightly proud of her effort.
He said: “Everything will revolve around the Prix du Cadran, with whatever presents itself beforehand.
“I think we’ve been beaten by a great champion, and she’s run the race of her life.
“The owners have expressed a view to consider the Cheltenham Festival. She’s jumped a few on the q.t, and seems to enjoy it, but it’s whether her legs would stand it and it’s just a thought.”
Her rider Joey Sheridan said: “I’m over the moon for all the connections and she’s shown the people who doubted her just how good she is.
“We would never have beaten the winner, but on easier ground would have been closer.”
Andrew Balding was also thrilled with Spanish Mission, saying: “We’re thrilled with his run and might look at the Goodwood Cup.”
Jockey William Buick added: “It was a great run, because that trip stretches him. He gave me a great ride.”
ANALYSIS
History was on the line as Stradivarius went to post bidding to emulate the great Yeats, who holds the record having won four Gold Cups at Ascot.
The forecast thunderstorms failed to materialise and only the briefest of sporadic showers meant the ground was Good to Firm – perfect conditions for the champion to showcase his talents - namely that turn of foot, a potent weapon in the staying game.
With the weather playing ball punters got stuck into Stradivarius and he was sent off the odds-on favourite at 5/6, with rising stars in the division, SUBJECTIVIST and Spanish Mission, next best in the market at 13/2 and 7/1 respectively.
But while everything went smoothly pre-race things went awry for Stradivarius in the contest itself, with Frankie Dettori, who recorded his 75th winner at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, getting in all sorts of bother as he tried to make ground from the rear on the turn for home.
The Italian had saved ground by sticking to the inside rail in the rear, but at the crucial point in the contest he had nowhere to go as Subjectivist piled on the pressure up front.
In that moment the baton was passed, from the old guard to the new kid on the block, with Subjectivist proving his international exploits in France and Dubai were no flukes while showcasing his aptitude for this unique test at the same time.
Proven over two miles after his Prix Royal-Oak and Dubai Gold Cup victories, 2m4f around Ascot asked a new question but he had all the answers, galloping clear in the style of star stayer.
While Stradivarius has bullied this division thanks to his ability to settle and his rapid turn of pace, in Subjectivist we have an old school cup horse who will take Johnston and Fanning to Goodwood and France again and likely back here in a year’s time.
Only four, he’s the one to beat in these races now, although a rematch with Stradivarius over two miles at Goodwood is a tantalising prospect. (Ben Linfoot)
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