Trip To Paris has caused a 12-1 upset in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, beating two horses that would have provoked much more celebration among the ladies’ day crowd. Ryan Moore, seeking a record-equalling eighth winner of the week, was second aboard Kingfisher after terrible trouble in running up the straight, while third place went to the previously unbeaten favourite, Forgotten Rules.
In victory, the 39-year-old jockey Graham Lee has completed a remarkable double, having also won the Grand National 11 years ago aboard Amberleigh House. Lee had the unusual problem of being undersized for a jump jockey and eventually gave up the greater risks associated with the winter game to try his luck on the Flat.
This triumph is just the latest justification of that decision. Lee won 159 races on the Flat last year. “He was so switched off and relaxed and he raced that way,” the jockey said. “He was just conserving his energy and when I turned in, there was a gap down the rails. He’s picked up good and he deserved it.”
A supplementary entry for the race at a cost of £35,000, Trip To Paris must count as one of the most improved horses in training this year, which he began by getting beaten in a handicap off a mark of 88 at Kempton in March. He then won three in a row, including the Chester Cup, was an arguably unlucky second at Sandown and has now landed a Group One.
For a strong and improving stayer who goes on fast ground, the Melbourne Cup at the end of the year ought to be a natural target. However, Trip To Paris will certainly be lumbered with plenty of weight by the Australian handicapper if he turns up there.
The winning trainer was Ed Dunlop, who told Channel 4 that his parents have a Gold Cup trophy on their dining table at home, from the time in 1974 when his father, John, trained Ragstone to win the race. Dunlop had a quiet 2014 but Trip To Paris has already made this year much more memorable for the Newmarket man.
Earlier, Moore took his tally for Ascot week to seven with a double. He was a surprise winner aboard Waterloo Bridge in the Norfolk, which was thought to be between the Richard Hannon-trained pair Log Out Island and King Of Rooks, though in the event they may have undermined each other by contesting the lead for much of the race.
Moore also scored in the Ribblesdale on Curvy, who outstayed the favourite, Pleascach. Time Test was an impressive winner of the Tercentenary under Frankie Dettori and the winning trainer, Roger Charlton, is already considering Group One targets for the colt.
