Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien made history at Royal Ascot overnight when notching up the milestone of 100 Royal Ascot wins and he did it in the feature race with the Group I Royal Ascot Gold Cup (2m4f) won by elite stayer Scandinavia, a son of Triple Crown hero Justify.
Scandinavia announced his staying potential last season winning the Group I Goodwood Cup at two miles beating older rivals and the Group I Doncaster St Leger against his 3YO peers.
He won his two lead up races in Ireland this year and was favourite for the Gold Cup with Ryan Moore to ride, but there was a big hurdle to overcome and that was last year’s Gold Cup winner Trawlerman.
Trawlerman had not raced since winning the Group I British Champions Long Distance Cup last October, but even with the lack of match practice, he put up a great performance.
Trawlerman looked to have the race won, but Scandinavia kept coming all the way to the line for Ryan Moore to get up and win by a head.
“Scandinavia is only a baby stayer, he’s only a four-year-old,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“The second horse is a brave horse and we know how good he is. He’s eight and he had plenty of age on his side for when it got tough. It is tough on a young horse but it was brilliant.”
Aidan O’Brien was elated to bring up his 100th winner in such an iconic race.
“It’s always been an incredibly special race for the lads because horses have to have class,” said O’Brien.
“I’m so delighted for everybody; for me and [wife] Annemarie and everybody in Ballydoyle, it’s such a privilege to be working with these people and these horses for the lads.
“I’m not taking it for granted, it’s so special and it’s a day we never thought would happen. Every race is so hard to win here, you never expect anything to happen, you always hope it will.”
MV Magnier paid tribute to Aidan O’Brien.
"He's an incredible man," he said. "To get 100 Royal Ascot winners and for the 100th to be in the Gold Cup, it's pretty special. To have the King and Queen here and everyone, it's a big deal to us all. Aidan is a very special man, and Annemarie is very special to put up with him!
"His work ethic is different class and we're just very lucky to be able to work with him. He's a very nice guy, and I have to say that. He's obviously a very good breeder himself when you see how good Joseph and Donnacha are going. Joseph has taken this place by storm and Donnacha has in the past. They're an incredible family, really."
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Scandinavia has the overall record of seven wisn and two placings from 11 starts.
He is a half-brother to Group I winner Above the Curve and is the second Group I winner among three winners from blueblood Galileo mare Fabulous, an unraced half-sister to champion racehorse and sire Giant’s Causeway.
Fabulous is also a half-sister to Group II winning blue hen You’resothrilling, the dam of Group I winners Gleneagles, Happily, Joan of Arc and Marvellous.
Scandinavia is one of 11 Group I winners for Justify, who is available for Southern Hemisphere covers at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Justify has two sons on the roster in Australia this spring with 2024 Champion European 3YO Colt and Horse of the Year, City of Troy standing at a fee of $49,500, while Storm Boy is priced more affordably at $16,500.
