Tuam's Rossa Ryan rides 1st Royal Ascot winner Highland Chief came from way off the pace to give Paul and Oliver Cole a landmark success in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot. The Coles were the first to register a victory with a dual licence when racing resumed — and are now the first to be jointly credited with a winner at the Royal meeting. Carrying top-weight, Highland Chief (20-1) only had two behind him turning into the straight, but fairly took off down the centre of the track. Grand Rock, under Cieren Fallon, made a bold bid from the front, but was running on empty entering the final furlong as Tritonic took over and briefly looked the winner. Highland Chief though, who finished third to Pinatubo in the Chesham 12 months ago, defied a drift to the left to provide Rossa Ryan with his first Royal winner, too. Oliver Cole said: “Dad couldn’t be here as he’s gone to his best friend’s funeral. “The horse has always been very good. He didn’t show anything at Newmarket and we were all scratching our heads. “Rossa has been coming in to ride him twice a week and has ridden him in all his work. The last two weeks the horse has been switched on and come to himself. He’s a bit of a tricky character, but he’s a happy horse. “He won on soft ground at Newbury and it could be an advantage to him.”
