Impressive Scandinavia delivers O'Brien Goodwood Cup 1-2
His victory was dampened, not only by the unseasonably grey skies, but also by a terrible injury to the much-loved 2021 winner Trueshan which resulted in the nine-year-old being put down.
For Trueshan's long-time rider Hollie Doyle, who had won the previous race, it was devastating, having experienced some great moments in the 21 times she had ridden the old trooper.
Scandinavia had been interfered with as Trueshan retreated through the field but jockey Wayne Lordan refocussed him and managed to get past Ryan Moore on the favourite Illinois inside the final furlong.
For Illinois and Moore it was more big race frustration as they had filled the runners-up spot behind Trawlerman in last month's Ascot Gold Cup.
"He has improved all year," said Lordan, who landed the Epsom Derby for O'Brien in June on Lambourn.
"There is plenty of improvement to come.
"Illinois is very genuine and a Group One winner.
"Today was about finding out how smart my ride was and he has proved he is a very smart stayer.
"He would be an Ascot Gold Cup horse for next year."
'Moody' Audience
Earlier Zavateri backed up his July Stakes win earlier this month with victory in the Group Two Vintage Stakes and set his eyes firmly on next year's English 2000 Guineas, a double that has been achieved on four occasions.
The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained winner showed real guts too, battling back under Charlie Bishop after being headed by Morris Dancer inside the final furlong.
"He is a dream ride," said Bishop.
"He is tough as teak. He beat horses round him then William Buick came and passed me but his attitude is hang tough and he got back in front.
"We can definitely dream of the 2000 Guineas."
Whilst Zavateri franked the form as probably being England's top two-year-old, Do or Do Not is certainly the most consistent having finished third, after filling the runner-up spot in the Coventry at Royal Ascot and then the July Stakes.
The other Group Two of the day, the Lennox Stakes, was robbed of a lot of its interest when favourite Kinross's bid to become the first horse to win the race three times ended before even the start.
Kinross had to be withdrawn after the temperamental Audience, last year's winner, lashed out and drew blood below the knee.
"I am gutted, I tried to avoid Audience as I know how moody he is," said Rossa Ryan.
With him out of the running he was followed swiftly by another of the leading fancies, Royal Ascot winner Noble Champion, who was pulled up early in the race and as a result interfered with several of the contenders.
The honours went instead to Doyle on outsider Witness Stand, sparking scenes of rapturous delight from joint trainers Jamie Insole and Richard Newlands, the latter a Grand National winning handler.
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France 24
29-07-2025
- France 24
Impressive Scandinavia delivers O'Brien Goodwood Cup 1-2
Scandinavia, only the second three-year-old to win the race in the past 35 years with the legendary Stradivarius the last to do so in 2017, provided O'Brien with his fifth win in the two mile contest. His victory was dampened, not only by the unseasonably grey skies, but also by a terrible injury to the much-loved 2021 winner Trueshan which resulted in the nine-year-old being put down. For Trueshan's long-time rider Hollie Doyle, who had won the previous race, it was devastating, having experienced some great moments in the 21 times she had ridden the old trooper. Scandinavia had been interfered with as Trueshan retreated through the field but jockey Wayne Lordan refocussed him and managed to get past Ryan Moore on the favourite Illinois inside the final furlong. For Illinois and Moore it was more big race frustration as they had filled the runners-up spot behind Trawlerman in last month's Ascot Gold Cup. "He has improved all year," said Lordan, who landed the Epsom Derby for O'Brien in June on Lambourn. "There is plenty of improvement to come. "Illinois is very genuine and a Group One winner. "Today was about finding out how smart my ride was and he has proved he is a very smart stayer. "He would be an Ascot Gold Cup horse for next year." 'Moody' Audience Earlier Zavateri backed up his July Stakes win earlier this month with victory in the Group Two Vintage Stakes and set his eyes firmly on next year's English 2000 Guineas, a double that has been achieved on four occasions. The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained winner showed real guts too, battling back under Charlie Bishop after being headed by Morris Dancer inside the final furlong. "He is a dream ride," said Bishop. "He is tough as teak. He beat horses round him then William Buick came and passed me but his attitude is hang tough and he got back in front. "We can definitely dream of the 2000 Guineas." Whilst Zavateri franked the form as probably being England's top two-year-old, Do or Do Not is certainly the most consistent having finished third, after filling the runner-up spot in the Coventry at Royal Ascot and then the July Stakes. The other Group Two of the day, the Lennox Stakes, was robbed of a lot of its interest when favourite Kinross's bid to become the first horse to win the race three times ended before even the start. Kinross had to be withdrawn after the temperamental Audience, last year's winner, lashed out and drew blood below the knee. "I am gutted, I tried to avoid Audience as I know how moody he is," said Rossa Ryan. With him out of the running he was followed swiftly by another of the leading fancies, Royal Ascot winner Noble Champion, who was pulled up early in the race and as a result interfered with several of the contenders. The honours went instead to Doyle on outsider Witness Stand, sparking scenes of rapturous delight from joint trainers Jamie Insole and Richard Newlands, the latter a Grand National winning handler.
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France 24
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- France 24
Lazzat denies Japan a first Royal Ascot winner in thrilling climax
Lazzat's victory rounded off a superb week for owner the Emir of Qatar's Wathnan Racing, a final day double -- both ridden by James Doyle -- taking their tally to five. Lazzat was France's last hope of salvaging something from the week -- indeed their other two runners in the race fared badly, Sajir being withdrawn and the other Topgear losing two of his horse shoes. The winner was still in feisty form post winning as he shied away from someone coming to him with a blanket like a matador and dumped Doyle on the turf. Doyle -- described as "world class and a brilliant guy" by Wathan's racing manager Richard Brown -- dusted himself down as his 26th Royal Ascot winner disappeared into the distance. "I cannot take any credit at all," he said modestly. "Jerome (Reynier the trainer) was very confident, I could tell Satono Reve was coming alright but you won't get a more genuine horse than this." Satono Reve lost little in defeat under Joao Moreira -- known as 'the Magic Man' -- and did better than the previous 10 Japanese runners at the meeting, all of whom had finished outside the first three. "We came in with a lot of confidence but unfortunately bumped into a very good horse. "I thought I had him but he had another gear. "My horse ran really well." 'Best friend' Rebel's Romance is trainer Charlie Appleby's favourite horse and the two-time Breeder's Cup Turf winner endeared himself further when he won the Hardwicke Stakes. Described as an "absolute dude" by jockey William Buick Appleby's last runner of the week delivered the trainer's first win at Royal Ascot since a 1-2 three years ago to the day. "It is a huge honour to have a horse like this," said Appleby, whose winner was the first seven-year-old to win the race in 102 years. "This was the horse we needed with the last roll of the dice, he is a battler. "He is more than our iron horse he has kept the yard afloat this week. "He is our stable's favourite and always will be." Appleby, who began the season with a bang winning both the English 1000 and 2000 Guineas, shrugged off the ending of the losing run. "Of course it is not a matter of life and death," said Appleby, who has taken his tally to 16 Royal Ascot winners. "If you look at the bigger picture and beyond racing you have got to take the losses and take positives out of it. "It is the equine Olympics." Appleby's mother Patricia was present and concurred with Buick that Rebel's Romance was a "dude of a horse". She also brought her son perhaps the required good omen. "It has been a very long wait," she said. "Last time I wore this yellow dress was when Charlie won the Melbourne Cup (2018) and I have not worn it since." Buick has had a far better week than Appleby, landing amongst other races the Ascot Gold Cup for the same owners, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's Godolphin Operation. "He is a dream horse. Any jockey fortunate to have in his career a horse like this is blessed," said the 36-year-old Norway-born jockey. "We're best friends." Doyle had begun the day with a bang as Humidity emulated his full brother Holloway Boy in 2022 landing the Listed Chesham Stakes for Wathnan Racing. Qatar's joy was Godolphin's despair as hotly fancied favourite Treanmor -- who cost 2million euros ($2.3 million) -- never threatened. A special day for the winners but also for Dean Sutherland, who has worked at Ascot since June 1981, firstly at the golf course then on the gardening team. More fortunate than many to be able to don a short sleeved shirt in the heat he was invited to line-up with other dignitaries and greet and chat with the avid gardening fan King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their arrival by carriage. © 2025 AFP
