Horse Racing: Yeats Strikes Gold for Repeat Triumph

Hot favourite Yeats completed back-to-back victories in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with a performance packed full of class.

The 8-13 market leader stormed into the lead early in the straight under Mick Kinane and quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals. Geordieland (12-1) came out of the pack, but Aidan O'Brien's top-class stayer held him by a length-and-a-half. Le Miracle (50-1) was three-and-a-half lengths back in third. Sergeant Cecil, the people's favourite, was virtually pulled up in last place.

French raider Lord Du Sud led in the early stages from The Last Drop and Tungsten Strike, with Yeats settled in midfield and Geordieland held up at the rear of the pack. The runners were well stretched out with a mile and a half to go and there was little change in the order until six furlongs out when the field bunched up and the race began in earnest. Lord Du Sud still led turning for home, but Yeats quickly burst to the head of affairs to stamp his authority on the race, before staying on strongly to become the 10th horse to win the Gold Cup more than once.

"We are absolutely delighted," enthused O'Brien. "He was a lot heavier today than he has ever been, but he has been much pacier in his work and in his races than he has ever been. Mick did the right thing on him and rode him with a lot of confidence. Seamus [Heffernan] said in his first two races this season he had won in a matter of strides and that is what he did today."

Asked about the Melbourne Cup, O'Brien replied: "All those races are open to him, but it will be discussed with the owners. We would love to come back and win [the Gold Cup] for a third time. Hopefully, we will be here."

Sergeant Cecil's rider Jimmy Fortune, currently the leading jockey at this week's meeting, said: "There was no problem, I just think he ran a flat race."