Great Yeats takes second Gold Cup

22nd June 2007

Yeats (6h Sadler’s Wells-Lyndonville by Top Ville) confirmed himself one of the highest-class stayers of recent years when running out an impressive winner of the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday for a second successive year.

Bred jointly by co-owners’ David and Diane Nagle’s Barronstown Stud, the son of Sadler’s Wells - who also won the 2005 G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom - took up the lead two furlongs out and went on to score by a length and a half under jockey Mick Kinane.

"He’s a very exciting horse and it would be great to come back here again next year," said winning trainer Aidan O’Brien. "Everyone wants to be here and in this part of the world the Gold Cup is the big staying race. From this day last year the plan was always to come back here again so this is a big relief and I’m delighted for everyone at home.

"There’s no doubt he’s stronger, bulkier and a quicker horse this year. He travelled and quickened well today and didn’t look like a real stayer."

But before next year’s G1 Gold Cup, Australia’s greatest race - the Melbourne Cup - could again be on the agenda.

"There’s every chance we’d think about bringing him there again and usually after this week we have a talk and put together a plan of races for the horses," added O’Brien. "It’s all up for discussion but I’d think there’s every chance he might not go to Goodwood this time and go to the G1 Irish St Leger and then on to Melbourne."

Kinane added: "He settled beautifully and I decided to make my move as none of the French horses were going as well as me. I went outside to take up a nice prominent position and I knew my fellow would take three or four lengths out of anything behind me. He's developed into a beautiful individual. He's matured and felt marvellous, and he's a horse that enjoys his racing. It was nice to put it to bed. If he can stay sound he'll be the one they all have to beat next year."