Weld wins Ascot Gold Cup

Globe-trotting Irish trainer Dermot Weld landed his first Ascot Gold Cup when Rite of Passage at 20-1 won a thrilling battle.

With Age of Aquarius (8-1) by a neck to capture the coveted centrepiece of the Royal Ascot meeting.

Weld, who has won races around the world from the Melbourne Cup to the Belmont Stakes in the United States, was full of praise afterwards for jockey Pat Smullen.

He outfought compatriot Johnny Murtagh who had been bidding to land the stamina test yet again for trainer Aidan O’Brien after Yeats had won the race a record four times in a row.

“He is a world-class jockey,” Weld said of Smullen who clipped 1.37 seconds off the course record after a battle royal between two dogged stayers.

Purple Moon (12-1) finished a distant third, six lengths back, with Spanish challenger Bannaby (20-1) fourth.

Rite of Passage, talented enough to be a leading hurdler last year who was placed at the Cheltenham Festival, won because of his bottomless stamina.

Weld said: “I am delighted to have a horse of his calibre.”

The success tasted all the sweeter because Weld’s champion stayers Vintage Crop and Vinnie Roe could never manage better than second in the Gold Cup.

Rite of Passage was immediately quoted as 10-1 favourite for November’s Melbourne Cup, a race Weld has won twice before.

He said: “I think I had the favourite for that race before today in Profound Beauty (now 14-1). She also beat Age Of Aquarius.

“It’s a long way away but it’s always been a target of mine for this horse as well.”

Frankie Dettori grabbed his second winner of Royal Ascot 2010 when giving Hibaayeb a copybook ride to win the Ribblesdale Stakes with breathtaking ease for Dubai’s Goldolphin.

Dettori, given a rousing cheer when performing his trademark flying dismount afterwards, said: “The further we were going, the further she was going to win.”

The next target for the fast improving filly is the Irish Oaks.

Dettori, celebrating his 43^rd victory in 20 years of riding at Royal Ascot, quipped: “I certainly know my way around here.”

The 16-1 shot Approve was given a tumultuous reception in the unsaddling enclosure by the 20-strong Highclere syndicate after scorching up the Ascot straight to land the Norfolk Stakes.

Jockey Eddie Ahern, cheered to the rafters by the colt’s owners, said: “He was drawn two today and he was first out of the stalls. He is tough, he stuck his head out.”

Asked what the plan was now, trainer Willie Haggas was quick to reply: “A large glass of champagne is the first plan.”

Shaikh Mohammed attends Royal Ascot Festival

DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the second day of Royal Ascot Festival along with Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

Also present at the racing festival were Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Shaikh Mohammed Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Finance Minister Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Maktoum bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and other senior officials and a large gathering of racing enthusiasts.

British champion jockey Ryan Moore gave Dubai connections something to cheer about as he powered Rainfall to a record-breaking victory in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes on the second day at Royal Ascot.

Rainfall owned by Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and powered by the jockey Ryan Moore achieved a record-breaking victory in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes on the second day at Royal Ascot.

Shaikh Hamdan received the winning Trophy after the stunning victory among cheered audience.

Godolphin’s Invisible Man led by Frankie Dettori won Royal Hunt Cup. After the race, Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid received the winning trophy.

Maqaasid owned by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum with Richard Hills on board won Queen Mary Stakes. Shaikh Maktoum bin Hamdan bin Rashid received the winning trophy after the race.

Princess Haya presented the cup for Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud after his Byword finished first in Prince of Wales’s Stakes. —