Royal Ascot: Yeats may pursue hat-trick of Gold Cups

Anniversaries can distort as well as distil what has gone before. They can lend an illusory, vintage flavour to the past, and staleness to the present. Yesterday, however, the bicentenary of the Gold Cup was gilded by one of its most illustrious winners, a horse worthy not only of this venerable old prize but also of the enduring names already on its roll of honour.

In running away with the race last season, Yeats looked one of the outstanding stayers of recent years, and he reiterated that impression with another commanding display. Nor has he merely outclassed pedestrian rivals. Geordieland would have been a brilliant winner in his absence, cruising through the field in the straight, but unable to reel in the champion who had already thrashed him at Goodwood last summer.

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Geordieland reduced the deficit from five lengths that day to one and a half here, and some will deceive themselves that his rider was rather too ambitious, but anyone who had risked backing Yeats at 8-13 never experienced the faintest disquiet. Having relaxed beautifully for Michael Kinane, he emerged from midfield with ominous ease and quickly opened up a decisive lead early in the straight.

Geordieland's trainer was under no illusions. "Our horse is good enough to win an ordinary Gold Cup," Jamie Osborne said, shaking his head. "But he was up against an exceptional stayer today. It makes no sense to keep taking him on, so we'll go wherever Yeats doesn't."

Osborne may have to wait to discover his itinerary, for the versatility of Yeats gives him all manner of options. Aidan O'Brien, his trainer, did not rule out the possibility of bringing him back here next month for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, though he has alternative candidates for that race. Much will depend on the priority granted to the Melbourne Cup, in which he finished seventh last year.

"It's possible he won't go to Goodwood this time but for the Irish Leger and then Melbourne," he said. "The boss [John Magnier] and everyone have a big operation in Australia, and it's close to all our hearts. But it's not an easy race to win and it's a long way back. We'd love to come back here and win the Gold Cup a third time.

"There's no doubt he's stronger, and more bulky, this year - and quicker. Sometimes you're wary of letting them bulk up, but if you do it can help them get quicker."

After haemorrhaging patrons during the first two days, Ascot welcomed a full house of 74,000 for Ladies' Day. A heavy squall reminded the management that they still have some dark clouds on their horizon, but Sheikh Mohammed was serenely indifferent to the deluge as he welcomed Silkwood back after the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Back in the spring the sheikh transferred another filly, Folk Opera, from Michael Jarvis to Godolphin to be prepared for the Oaks. But whereas she was beaten in her trial and has not been seen since, Jarvis has now pulled another rabbit out of his hat. In Silkwood, the sheikh probably had a better one all along, judging from the way she careered past her rivals here.

"She has always shown immense talent," Jarvis admitted. "She wasn't really trained last year so we got her going through the winter and started off at Wolverhampton.

"We were keen to run her in the Oaks, but she is such a fluent mover that when it came up soft we discussed it with Sheikh Mohammed and got an alternative here."

Jimmy Fortune rode his fifth winner of the meeting when Winker Watson lived up to his billing in the Norfolk Stakes, despite hanging badly under pressure. With Peter Chapple-Hyam, he is certainly in the right hands to keep progressing, though quotes as low as 10-1 for the 2,000 Guineas next year were rather absurd. He is not especially likely to get a mile, for a start, albeit Chapple-Hyam is certain he already wants a sixth furlong - possibly in the Prix Morny, a race he won last year with Dutch Art after his success here.

Chapple-Hyam rates Winker Watson "best of my early ones", though it may be worth remembering that his later starters last year included Authorized.

"Hopefully, he can keep going the way Dutch Art did last year," he said. "He's still a bit green and Jimmy said he didn't really know what to do when he hit the front. But you never know, another one might still come out of the woodwork!"