Luxembourg leads Bay Bridge © Photo Healy Racing
Champions of three countries - Ireland, England and France, contested the Curragh's Tattersalls Gold Cup today, with victory in the end going to Luxembourg in a top renewal of the Group 1 race.
Winners of last year's French Derby, British Champion Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes — Vedani (11/8f), Bay Bridge (2/1) and Luxembourg (11/4) respectively, were amongst six runners for the €450,000 race which attained Group 1 status in 1999 and today saw arguably it's finest renewal.
In the race, Luxembourg made all the running to win under Ryan Moore, beating UK challenger Bay Bridge, which was momentarily short of room two furlongs out. Bay Bridge closed the deficit to within a neck of Luxembourg inside the final furlong but ultimately failed by a half-length. Piz Badile last year's Irish Derby runner-up, finished third with French raider Vedani failing to fire, finishing fifth.
It was also a landmark success for Luxembourg's trainer Aidan O'Brien as it was the Ballydoyle maestro's 400 Grade or Group 1 win throughout a career which began in June 1993.
O'Brien commented “that’s hard work from so many people and the lads put so much in day in day out. We are just a small part of a big team and I’m delighted for everybody.”
He added “that was a masterclass from Ryan - he’s confident, mature, dedicated, passionate and he’s very strong. He has everything and is a great fellow to work with. He was happy to make the running and happy to take a lead. The horse gets 1m2f very strong.
“The last day was his first day and we were happy to sit in.
“When a horse is happy to make the running they are very independent and you are not at the mercy of anybody. Ryan guided him through all the fractions.
“He went to the (Irish) Champion Stakes after a terrible preparation. He then went to the Arc on bad ground after that hard preparation and it was always possible that he would be as good.
“The lads had the patience to leave him alone and he’s a very serious horse. He’s not for kids, he’s a hardy customer. He’s tough and has loads of class.”
Paddy Power and Betfair later cut Luxembourg to 3/1 favourite (from 10/1) for Royal Ascot's Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, to 5/1 (from 10/1) for Sandown's Eclipse and to 16/1 from 33/1 for the Prix de l'Arc.
Quotes from Alan Magee
