The Gold Cup 6x4w2f |
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| Group 1, Ascot 16:20 £650,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 1  |
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With the familiar shadow of Kyprios now absent from the staying ranks following his recent retirement, a fresh chapter in the Gold Cup story will be written at Royal Ascot—and a new name etched into the history of the meeting’s most prestigious test of stamina.
Aidan O’Brien, who masterminded Kyprios’ dual triumphs, looks to Illinois as the most likely heir apparent. The colt impressed in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester, travelling like a class act before asserting with authority—his first real audition as a Cup horse, and one that left very few doubts.
O’Brien has also left in Jan Brueghel, a winner of the Coronation Cup, though all eyes appear to be on Illinois, whose clash with ’s emerging force Candelari promises to be one of the meeting’s defining duels. Francis-Henri Graffard’s colt took a seismic step forward when landing the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp, pulling clear in a manner that suggests stamina—and style—are in generous supply.
Candelari wins a first Group One in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/uyGWhr0mCj
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025
For the ever-consistent Trawlerman and Sweet William, trained by John and Thady Gosden, Kyprios’ absence is both a closing chapter and an open door. Both have chased shadows at this level but now get their opportunity to shine. Trawlerman warmed up with a convincing return at Sandown, and looks tuned for another crack at the summit.
Coltrane, another mainstay of the staying division, returns for Andrew Balding, though he must overturn Sagaro Stakes form with Michael Bell’s Big Orange, the gallant front-runner who carried all before him in 2017.
Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Future adds international spice after landing the Dubai Gold Cup, while Wonder Legend, representing James Ferguson, steps up from the all-weather circuit with untapped turf potential and a profile that’s still very much on the rise.
The final place on the ten-strong entry list belongs to Trueshan, a long-time favourite of the staying scene and trained by Alan King. But as has so often been the case, the weather may have the final say—any prolonged dry spell could see him ruled out before he even reaches the parade ring.
With new faces rising, old rivals renewing, and questions waiting to be answered, this year’s Gold Cup promises to be a race of transition—but very possibly, of revelation.
Gold Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£650,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 1
10 remaining entries
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 643-22 Coltrane 8 9-4 Andrew Balding
2 04/119 Dubai Future 9 9-4 Saeed bin Suroor
3 3212-3 Sweet William 6 9-4 John & Thady Gosden Robert Havlin
4 323-51 Trawlerman 7 9-4 John & Thady Gosden William Buick
5 4223-4 Trueshan 9 9-4 Alan King
6 31-211 Wonder Legend 5 9-4 James Ferguson
7 3006-1 Yashin 6 9-4 2 Michael Bell Callum Shepherd
8 1-1131 Candelari 4 9-3 F-H Graffard
9 2221-1 Illinois 4 9-3 A P O'Brien
10 111-21 Jan Brueghel 4 9-3 A P O'Brien
THE GOLD CUP - Past Results
2024-WINNER-KYPRIOS A P O'Brien Ryan Moore Moyglare,Magnier,Tabor,Smith,Westerberg 6 9-4 11/10F
2022-WINNER-KYPRIOS A P O'Brien Ryan Moore Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg 4 9-03 13/8F
2021-WINNER-SUBJECTIVIST Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Dr J Walker 4-9-01 13/2
2020-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 6-9-02 4/5F
2019-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 5-9-02 Evs F
2018-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 4-9-01 7/4JF
2017-WINNER-BIG ORANGE 6-9-02 Owner-Bill & Tim Gredley; Trainer-Michael Bell; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-5/1
2ND-Order Of St George 5-9-02 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore;
SP-5/6 Fav
3RD-Harbour Law 4-9-00 Owner-Jackie Cornwell; Trainer-Laura Mongan; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-33/1
14 ran; Time-4m 22.4s; Dist-sh, 6
2016-WINNER-ORDER OF ST GEORGE 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-10/11 Fav
2ND-Mizzou 5-9-02 Owner-Jon Kelly; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-10/1
3RD-Sheikhzayedroad 7-9-02 Owner-Mohammed Jaber; Trainer-David Simcock; Jockey-Martin Harley; SP-40/1
17 ran; Time-4m 26.21s; Dist-3, 2¼
2015-WINNER-TRIP TO PARIS 4-9-00 Owner-La Grange Partnership; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-12/1
2ND-Kingfisher 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP- 5/1
3RD-Forgotten Rules 5-9-00 Owner-Moyglare Stud; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran; Time-4m 22.61s; Dist-11⁄4, nk
2014-WINNER-LEADING LIGHT 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey- Joseph O’Brien; SP-10/11F *fin 3RD promoted to
2ND-Missunited 7-8-13 Owner-Vanessa Hutch; Trainer-Michael Winters IRE; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-40/1 *fin 4TH promoted to
3RD-Brown Panther 6-9-02 Owner-Andrew Black & Owen Promotions Ltd; Trainer-Tom Dascombe; Jockey- Richard Kingscote; SP-5/1
13 ran; Time-4m 21.09s; Dist-nk, sh, 4½ (original finishing order) Estimate finished second but was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race test
2013-WINNER-ESTIMATE 4-8-11 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Simenon 6-9-02 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/1
3RD-Top Trip 4-9-00 Owner-J Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-7/1
14 ran; Time-4m 20.51s; Dist-nk, 1
2012-WINNER-COLOUR VISION 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-6/1
2ND-Opinion Poll 6-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-5/1
3RD-Saddler’s Rock 4-9-00 Owner-Michael O’Flynn; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/2
9 ran; Time-4m 42.05s; Dist-½, nk 4/5 Fav Fame And Glory (7th)
2011-WINNER-FAME AND GLORY 5-9-02 Owner-Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Fitri Hay; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Opinion Poll 5-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-16/1
3RD-Brigantin 4-9-00 Owner-Team Valor; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Pierre-Charles Boudot; SP-16/1
15 ran; Time-4m 37.51s; Dist-3, 4½
2010-WINNER-RITE OF AGE 6-9-02 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen;
SP-20/1
2ND-Age Of Aquarius 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Eduard Mordukhovitch; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-8/1
3RD-Purple Moon 7-9-02 Owner-Craig Bennett; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-12/1
12 ran; Time-4m 16.92s; Dist-nk, 6 11/4 Fav Ask (5th)
2009-WINNER-YEATS 8-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Patkai 4-9-00 Owner-Ballymacoll Stud; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/2
3RD-Geordieland 8-9-02 Owner-A Taylor, K Conlan, D Carberry; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-11/4
9 ran; Time-4m 20.73s; Dist-3½, 15
2008-WINNER-YEATS 7-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 7-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-15/2
3RD-Coastal Path 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre-FR; Jockey-Stephane Pasquier; SP-2/1
10 ran, Time-4m 21.14s, Dist-5, 4½,
2007-WINNER-YEATS 6-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-8/13 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 6-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-12/1
3RD-Le Miracle 6-9-02 Owner-Gestut Hachtsee; Trainer-Werner Baltromei GER; Jockey-Dominique Boeuf; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time 4m 20.78s, Dist 1½, 3½
2006-WINNER-YEATS 5-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon;
SP-7/1
2ND-Reefscape 5-9-02 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-100/30
3RD-Distinction 7-9-02 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran, Time-4m 20.45s, Dist-4, hd
2005-WINNER-WESTERNER 6-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer-Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-7/4
Fav
2ND-Distinction 6-9-00 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-33/1
3RD-Vinnie Roe 7-9-02 Owner-Seamus Sheridan; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-9/2
17 ran, Time-4m 19.49s, Dist- nk, 5 (Run at York)
2004-WINNER-PAPINEAU 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-5/1
2ND-Westerner 5-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer: Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Gerald Mosse; SP-13/2
3RD-Darasim 6-9-02 Owner-Markus Graff; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-28/1
13 ran, Time-4m 20.90s, Dist-1½, 2½ 5/4 Fav Mr Dinos (6th)
2003-WINNER-MR DINOS 4-9-00 Owner-Constantinos Shiacolas; Trainer-Paul Cole; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-3/1
2ND-Persian Punch 10-9-02 Owner-Jeff Smith; Trainer-David Elsworth; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-20/1
3RD-Pole Star 5-9-02 Owner-D I Russell; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Pat Eddery; SP-12/1
12 ran, Time: 4m 20.15s, Dist-6, ¾ 5/2 Fav Mamool (5th)
