Aidan O'Brien's Gstaad dazzles in Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot
With the field spread right across the track, Gstaad powered to a three-length victory under Ryan Moore, despite racing alone down the centre through the final two furlongs. Do Or Do Not (80/1) and Coppull (66/1) filled the frame for Ed Walker and Clive Cox respectively.
Gstaad, who was providing Aidan O'Brien with an 11th success in the six-furlong contest, jumped to the top of the Ballydoyle pecking order after injury ruled out stablemate Albert Einstein.
O'Brien said: 'I am absolutely delighted. Gstaad looks a very good horse, doesn't he? We have always loved him. He had only had the one run, but he has always worked like a good horse.
'He is big, scopey, has a good stride and is very genuine; he goes with his head down and he has loads of speed. He looks like he will get further than six furlongs.
'Ryan rode him very positive. He let him find himself in the first half and then he came home very well. I was surprised tacking up how big he is. He got the trip very well, so I am delighted for everyone.
'We are just so lucky to be working with such unbelievable horses, and Ryan riding them is incredible. It is a big team and it's a privilege to be involved in the whole thing."
Asked if Group Ones will be on the card for this horse next, O'Brien said: 'I would imagine so.'
On Albert Einstein, Aidan said: 'He felt like something we didn't have before. The first day he worked, he was probably the most different horse we have ever seen – he was so quick. We haven't had horses as quick as he is but as big as he is. He is very exciting."
Ed Walker said of Do Or Do Not: 'I was surprised, to be honest! The Coventry isn't a race I'd have thought I'll be winning any time soon. Fair play to Simon [Sadler, owner] - he wanted to roll the dice. I was quite happy to go and find a £40,000 novice at Carlisle, but he ran an absolute blinder and I'm really proud of him.
'He is a tough horse - both Hector [Crouch] at York and Tom [Marquand] today said they thought he was a smart horse. He is just so laidback at home, so chilled, he probably doesn't show you a huge amount, but that's how you want them.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He was the ultimate Royal Ascot eyecatcher' – Templegate's giant 12-1 NAP at Newmarket on Thursday
TEMPLEGATE tackles Thursday's racing confident of bashing the bookies on day one of the Newmarket July Festival. Back a horse by clicking their odds below - and check out this Advertisement ZAYER (3.00 Newmarket, nap) He caught the eye when coming home quickly to finish fourth in the Palace Of Holyrood at Royal Ascot last time. He was just hitting top speed at the end of five furlongs and this longer trip should be ideal. Quick ground suits and he looks a fair price. OPERA BALLO (4.45 Newmarket, nb) He got his career firmly back on track when winning a Listed contest at Sandown last time. He relishes this mile trip and looks well ahead of this standard. Advertisement MAXIMIZED (2.25 Newmarket, treble) He has done little wrong in winning both starts and improved at Epsom last time. He likes this trip and looks well up to this Group 2 standard. Do Or Do Not was an 80-1 second in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He was ahead among the low numbers and enjoyed the quick ground. A repeat of that would take him very close. Templegate's verdicts for the ITV1 action 1.50 Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing FURTHUR can go one better after a power-packed second in the Queen's Vase, shaping like a proper stayer and relishing the step up in trip. With Oisin Murphy back aboard and a weak pace predicted, he may prove hard to peg back if allowed to dictate matters from near the front. Hallelujah U caught the eye finishing off well in the Queen's Vase and is a serious player if he continues that upward curve. Scandinavia wasn't far behind either and will be suited by a more searching gallop but this small field may again find him out if they crawl early. Advertisement Nightime Dancer wasn't disgraced when eighth in the Derby. He looks the type to enjoy this stiffer test while Titanium Emperor is bred for middle distances and looked to be running out of petrol when seventh in the Queen's Vase. 2.25 TAKE it to the Max with the boys in blue. Advertisement MAXIMISED has done little wrong in winning both starts and improved at Epsom last time. He likes this trip and looks well up to this Group 2 standard. Do Or Do Not was an 80-1 second in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He was ahead among the low numbers and enjoyed the quick ground. A repeat of that would take him very close. Advertisement Brussels wasn't particularly strong in the betting when making a winning start for Aidan O'Brien at The Curragh in May. He showed good pace and Ballydoyle won this race 12 months ago. Comical Point shapes as though this move up a furlong will help after a decent fourth in the Norfolk last time. Trainer Andrew Balding is in excellent form. Advertisement Jel Pepper won a decent maiden at Goodwood and clocked a solid enough time. This is much hotter but there's more to come. Zavateri didn't have a lot to beat at Salisbury and will have to raise his game in this company. 3.00 Advertisement ZAYER caught the eye when coming home quickly to finish fourth in the Palace Of Holyrood at Royal Ascot last time. He was just hitting top speed at the end of five furlongs and this longer trip should be ideal. Quick ground suits and he looks a fair price. Hucklesbrook had a bit in hand when scoring at York 26 days ago and relishes this trip. Advertisement An 8lb rise gives him more to do but the booking of Ryan Moore takes the eye. Double Rush was third in that Knavesmire race from what turned out to be a poor draw. He could be a fair bit closer today. Crestofdistinction was an impressive winner at Wolverhampton last time and would have each-way claims if repeating that back on turf. Invictus enjoyed himself on the Rowley course here last time when winning with plenty to spare. Advertisement An 11lb rise for that is harsh but he should be competitive again as should dual winner Tawasol who likes this trip. 3.35 GHOSTWRITER ran a good race in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last time and was gaining on winner Rebel's Romance at the line. This is clearly a weaker race over a trip that suits and he can repay another slice of his £2m fee to Amo Racing. Advertisement Palladium was a place behind the tip latest and there's no obvious reason why he would turn that around. He is likely to fill the runner-up spot here. Wimbledon Hawkeye keeps running well in group races without being quite good enough to win one. He ran well again in the King Edward last time but is likely to find one too good. Advertisement The Appleby pair both look a bit short of this level. El Cordobes was held in Listed company at York and Arabian Crown was poor in the Gordon Richards at Sandown and has had a little break since. Templegate's tips FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
26-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Fans say ‘you can't pretend it isn't rigged' as Carabao Cup draw hands out play-off final repeat and huge derby
THE first Carabao Cup draw of the 2025-26 campaign took place on Thursday afternoon - and it left some fans seething. Among the first-round fixtures drawn by John Barnes and Shay Given were a huge derby and a repeat of a recent play-off final. 1 The Carabao Cup first round draw has been made Credit: PA Chelsterfield will host rivals Mansfield Town at the SMH Group Stadium. The two clubs last faced each other in April 2018, with Mansfield snatching a 1-0 win away from home. The rivalry between the two - branded the Miners strike derby - dates back to 1933 with Chesterfield having won the most games. Meanwhile, Luton Town will travel to face Coventry. The two sides went head-to-head in the 2022-23 Championship play-off final, with Luton earning promotion. Jordan Clark opened the scoring for the Hatters in the 23rd minute before Gustavo Hamer equalised for Coventry after half-time. With the score 1-1 after 120 minutes, penalties were needed and Luton went on to win. Some fans were less than thrilled with the outcome, with one person taking to X to write: "Hahahahaha you honestly can't pretend this isn't rigged." Most read in Football Another commented: "Typical we get drawn against these lot." While a third simply wrote: "Rigged." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
RTÉ News
24-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Andre Fabre looking forward to Eclipse with in-form Sosie
Andre Fabre is looking forward to bringing Sosie to England for what should be a thrilling clash of the generations in the Coral-Eclipse. The Sandown highlight is traditionally the first time the Classic generation meet with their elders and this year is no different. Currently the favourite is John and Thady Gosden's hugely impressive Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman, ahead of Sosie, the winner of three Group Ones and fourth in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Representing the Classic form this season is Aidan O'Brien's Camille Pissarro, winner of the French Derby. "Sosie is still on target for the Eclipse, I'm very happy with him," said Fabre. "He's shown good form this season and the owners are keen to run him." Looking at the likely opposition, Fabre said: "I was very impressed with Ombudsman, he looks a very nice colt and did it well. "It could be a small field, we'll see. The Prix du Jockey Club winner could run too and he looks a nice horse. "It should be a good race, that is what you expect, proper competition." Another top-class middle-distance performer who remains in contention for the Eclipse is the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat, winner of last season's Champion Stakes and best of the rest behind Ombudsman at the Royal meeting last week. Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: "We were delighted with Anmaat's run in the Prince of Wales's, he travelled very well again, came to win his race and was beaten by what looked an outstanding horse to me who quickened better than him. "I don't think we have any excuses. You could say he'd prefer easier ground, but that's not the reason he got beaten – he got beaten because a better horse beat him. "I spoke to Owen yesterday and he said the horse seems in good shape. The Eclipse certainly comes soon enough for a horse we know can handle soft ground better than some, so we don't want to put him through the mill right through the summer in every top Group One and find we don't have a horse left in the autumn. "We'll monitor him and the ground and the race. The early signs are good that he's come out of it OK, but he is a seven-year-old and we've got to do the right thing by him." Watch Racing from the Curragh on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and on Sunday from 2.10pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
