IS GOLD CUP HERO

by JOHN SCANLON IN A RIGHT ROYAL TRIUMPH

EFORE THE race, all the hype and all the talk old by out of the Dancer mare Reckoning, it Cup and Yorkshire Cup winner, Spanish Mission; raced on the inner in eighth. The order remained was of Stradivarius. He had won the Gold Cup, was a dream come true. For jockey there was the winner, ; and the largely unchanged, with the field racing in two lines until the centrepiece of the Royal Ascot meeting, on widespread praise, and touchingly the acclaim of his winner, Princess . And there, too, approaching the last half mile. B three previous occasions. He was odds-on to weighing room colleagues, for a truly remarkable ride. was Subjectivist’s stable companion Nayef Road, match the of in winning the Much of the interest surrounding this year’s owned by Mohamed Obaida, who had produced a S they turned into the straight Subjectivist was race a record four times. renewal of the Group 1 contest over two and a half gallant performance in last year’s race when A travelling strongly and Joe sent him to the head of But when the stalls flew open, the time for talk was over; miles revolved around whether Stradivarius could finishing second to Stradivarius. affairs. As he suddenly went three lengths clear his and instead of the red-hot favourite, it was Johnston Racing’s match Yeats’ achievement of winning the race four The race was something to savour, and it saw rivals looked as if they had been caught flat-footed, while Subjectivist who walked the walk -- or rather, ran the race of times. But the field that assembled on June 17 to take jockey Joe Fanning produce one of his finest on the odds-on favourite himself buried his life. him on was particularly strong. performances in the saddle. On settling down, among runners on the rail as the early leaders tired in front of So it was not Stradivarius who emerged a four-time winner; The stellar line-up of 12 runners included last Amhran Na Bhfiann led the way with him. it was Mark Johnston, the Middleham maestro who had year’s Derby winner, Serpentine; last year’s Irish Subjectivist travelling in second, while At the two-furlong pole Subjectivist had a five-length lead, previously trained three winners of the prestigious stayers' Derby and Queen’s Vase winner, ; the Nayef Road disputed fifth place as but Stradivarius had finally found a gap for a clear run and race. began to make progress up the rail as he went in pursuit. For Dr Jim Walker, the owner of Subjectivist, a four-year- Frankie was riding for all he was worth, but was still three

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5 5 Continued from p.7 No doubt Klarion readers who had read James remarkable week. Willoughby’s superb assessment of Subjectivist’s ‘To say the week was performance in Dubai in March in the April edition of the ‘surreal’ would be an lengths down as they entered the final furlong. magazine would have been supremely confident, as the understatement,’ he said. As Joe calmly eased Subjectivist further ahead with hands Teofilo colt bowled along in front, that he would stay on and ‘My wife and I left and heels, Stradivarius never looked like catching him and emerge victorious. Edinburgh on Sunday and Mark began to fade. At the post Subjectivist, easing down, had won produced a winner for us by five lengths. His time for that last furlong was the fastest S the celebrations began, connections also heaved a (Austrian Theory) at Doncaster of all the runners. A collective sigh of relief. For while Subjectivist had on the first leg of the journey. He was an impressive five lengths clear of , been so commanding when winning at Meydan in That had me buzzing already! with Spanish Mission half a length back in third and March, he had picked up an injury in that race. ‘I was just so glad the horse Stradivarius almost a further two lengths back in fourth. ‘It’s taken him a little while to come back from that and as was able to take part after the Nayef Road, who seemed to weaken in the closing furlong, a result we haven’t had any race in between,’ Mark said Dubai scare and then the fall in still finished a creditable sixth. before the race. And then, on the Friday before Royal Ascot, Middleham. I think I could The winning time of 4mins 20.28s, was the fastest Gold the colt had stumbled in Middleham on the way to the gallops. have been described as a Cup time (at Ascot) since that recorded by in ‘He fell over and skinned both knees and his hocks,’ Mark wrung-out dishcloth by the time 2010. There was some criticism of Frankie’s ride, but most said, ‘but hopefully they are just superficial grazes.’ I arrived at Ascot! pundits agreed that while Stradivarius was a little unlucky, he With relief that the horse was able to do himself justice ‘The rest is literally a dream, would probably not have caught Subjectivist even if given a came the elation of winning the Gold Cup. Owner Dr Walker and one that came true for clear run. told the Klarion that the experience of winning topped off a once. The ; the pinnacle of racing for me! The problem now is to lower expectations on all the other horses and try to get my feet Genius Joe wins back on the ground!’ EEDLESS to say, N Mark was utterly the acclaim of his delighted with the win, and very aware of its significance. Groom David Hickin punches the air in delight as he leads in Subjectivist ‘It's a sad day for Stradivarius his fellow jockeys and I know what it feels like you don't win it.’ when a like that goes under, but it's going to happen Groom David Hickin was similarly overjoyed. one day and I'm just happy that it was us,’ he reflected. ‘It was an absolutely unbelievable day. I thought it couldn’t T WAS a special day for winning but I was always ‘There are much bigger races and more valuable races, get any better than when I took him last year to when I rider Joe Fanning who was going very even at Royal Ascot, but I say every year I come here the one he won his first Group 1. It’s for days like these that we work enjoying his third Group 1 victory, comfortably, I was race I want to win is the Gold Cup. This is what Royal Ascot in racing, and he’s just a great horse to be associated with.’ and his second at the highest level on always happy. is all about. It's a fantastic race to watch every year, even if Subjectivist, at the age of 50. ‘When I turned in, Continued on p.10 Not only was he widely praised for his Subjectivist was confident ride, he won a touching giving me the same gesture of admiration from his fellow feeling as he did in Joe hugs the rail on Subjectivist as he leaves the pack jockeys who came out of the weighing Dubai, where he was Victorious Joe holds aloft the Gold Cup and heads for home -- and Gold Cup glory! room to welcome him back to the travelling so well and I winner’s enclosure. was able to fill him up ‘Everyone talks about before the straight. be, genuinely, one of the nicest human as the great front-running jockey,’ Mark ‘I thought it would take a very good beings ever to walk this planet. Johnston said after the race. one to go by him. Universally liked, it’s an honour to be his "I always put up in the ‘I'm thrilled to ride any Royal Ascot agent.’ same league, but I don't think there's winner. It's great for the yard and Dr Jim In an interview with The Irish Field, anyone better than Joe Fanning. He's Walker, who has been a brilliant owner Wicklow-born Joe was asked about the absolutely perfect at setting the pace and with us for years.’ special relationship he has enjoyed with it was perfect all the way round.’ the Johnston yard and why they have Joe was unaware of the problems NE of the abiding memories of enjoyed so much success. Stradivarius encountered in running. But O the race will surely be the ‘I don’t know what it is, it just seems the affable Irishman said he felt his reception afforded to Joe Fanning by his to work,’ he said. mount was always travelling strongly weighing room colleagues, with Franny ‘The yard is very well run and the and was confident he would win when Norton notably, and vocally, to the fore! standards are always kept high. Mark has striking the front as they rounded the Joe’s agent, Niall Hannity, took to never really given me any orders when home turn. Twitter to record his views of the day: I’m riding, he just lets me get on with it. ‘To be honest, in the race itself, I ‘Hard to explain how happy I am for Joe ‘He likes horses to run in a don’t never knew where Stradivarius was,’ he Fanning winning the Gold Cup today. push/don’t pull sort of way. He has great said. Unbelievable riding talent and work owners who have been there for years ‘I never had a look around or anything ethic second to none. He also happens to and it’s just a great yard to ride for.’ 8 9 Make that 4 for Mark!

5 UBJECTIVIST’s fabulous victory gave S the stable its fourth win in the Royal Ascot showpiece, and allowed the four-year-old to be bracketed alongside two stable legends in (below) and (right). The first Gold Cup win came in 1995, cour- tesy of Double Trigger. Ron Huggins’ Ela- Mana-Mou colt was then a four-year-old, and went to Ascot having finished third behind in the previous year’s St Leger. He prepared for the Gold Cup by winning both the Stakes at Ascot and the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, Group 3 events over two miles. In the Gold Cup, Double Trigger faced Moonax and Broadway Flyer, the two horses who had finished in front of him in the Leger, together with the previous year’s Gold Cup runner-up, . Under an enterprising ride from Jason Weaver, Double furlongs out, and kept on gamely to deny by Trigger was asked to make all the running. Quickening a head in a memorable finish. Owner Dr Jim Walker and his wife Corrie with Subjectivist in the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure with half a mile still to race, Double Trigger went clear of Gold Cup number three was also landed by Royal Rebel, his field, gaining revenge on Moonax with a five-length who returned to Ascot the following year to battle for the Continued from p.9 Subjectivist’s breeder, Susan Hearn of Mascalls Stud, said: margin of victory. prize. his early-season form was disappointing, but ‘I felt sick. I always feel sick when my horses are running. It’s The great stayer went on to land the stayers’ Triple at Ascot, he relished the Gold Cup trip and was ridden Proud Yard Manager Mairead Heap took to social media a horrible feeling but I can’t believe how easily he did that. Crown that year, defeating his year-younger brother pretty forcefully by to keep him in the with her reaction to the win. ‘What a horse, what a jockey and It’s a shame we sold him, but there you go!’ Double Eclipse in the . He also twice fin- picture. what a win!’ Susan stressed that races are just as exciting for the breeder ished second in the Gold Cup, to in 1996 as well as the owner of the horse. and to in 1998. HIS time the opposition was even more formida- ‘What I would say is that a lot of people The enigmatic Royal Rebel landed the second Gold Cup ble, with Irish St Leger/Prix Royal-Oak winner win for the yard in 2001. Like a son of T joining Persian Punch and would say “oh, but you only bred him - you don’t actually own him”. However I can Robellino, the colt was purchased by Charlie Gordon- in the field. Royal Rebel took the lead two furlongs out, assure you that it’s just as exciting watching Watson at October Yearling Sales for but the writing appeared to be on the wall when he was something you’ve had from a foal and 145,000gns. Purchased by Peter Savill, he was sent to headed by Vinnie Roe and Wareed. Responding gamely to nurtured go on to win a Group 1 race. It really Kingsley House, where, as a juvenile, he finished fourth in Murtagh’s hard driving, Royal Rebel rallied to regain the gives you a great sense of achievement.’ the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh. lead, prevailing in the end by a neck from Vinnie Roe. Susan’s husband Barry, founder and At three, Royal Rebel won the Listed Ballycullen Stakes After the race, winning jockey Johnny Murtagh paid president of Matchroom Sport, was delighted at Leopardstown over a mile and three-quarters. tribute to the dual Gold Cup winner, proclaiming that ‘he and tweeted: ‘Sometimes dreams do come Throughout his four-year-old career, he improved as a has the heart of a lion’. true! Subjectivist wins the Ascot Gold Cup. stayer and landed the Goodwood Cup (Group 2) and the Without doubt one of the greatest days of my Lonsdale Stakes (Group 3) in August 2000. He life. So proud of my wife Susan who bred the also went close to landing the Prix du Cadran horse at her Mascalls Stud.’ that October, beaten less than two lengths by Soon after the race, Mark and Charlie . announced that Subjectivist will head straight to the Goodwood Cup. It’s likely that IS first tilt at the Gold Cup came in Stradivarius will re-oppose, a prospect that June 2001. After running poorly in the recalls the memorable ‘Duel on the Downs’ H Yorkshire Cup and Henry II Stakes, clash of and in the he started at odds of 8/1 in a renewal of the 10 years ago. Gold Cup which featured the likes of San So Stradivarius, gallant in defeat, was not Sebastian, , Persian Punch and the able to emulate Yeats’ four Gold Cups in a dual winner, Rainbow High. row; but with Subjectivist so impressive in Arguably helped by the strong pace as a result putting such a stellar field to the sword, there of Yavana’s Pace and Persian Punch duelling was a real feeling that we may have witnessed for the early lead, Royal Rebel was hard driven Jim and Corrie raise the Gold Cup above the panel at Kingsley Park which carries the passing of the baton from one great by Johnny Murtagh to improve into second five their racing colours on the window dedicated to the silks of Group 1 winners champion to another. 10 11