The Gold Cup 4w156y |
 |
|
| Group 1, Ascot 16:20 £650,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 1  |
||
|
||
695l59
The curtain is rising, and Candelari is poised to take centre stage. The staying scene has a vacancy at its summit – and Francis-Henri Graffard’s rising star is ready to audition for the crown.
It’s been a whirlwind rise for the son of Frankel, who didn’t grace a racecourse until December, but has since bounded through the ranks with the elegance of a natural and the determination of a champion-in-waiting. His latest act? A striking performance in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp, where he dispatched his rivals with authority in just his fifth outing.
Candelari wins a first Group One in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/uyGWhr0mCj
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025
“The plan is very much Ascot,” confirmed Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs. “He’s a good-ground horse – we’d be hopeful conditions suit.”
From late-starter to Group One winner on only his second turf run, Candelari is a colt with raw gears and refined stamina. He may be lightly raced, but the engine is undeniable.
“He’s a big, long-striding horse, still improving. Not as battle-hardened as some, sure – but he’s got talent, and plenty of it,” Routh added.
The market reflects the mounting belief – he’s no bigger than 7-2 for Gold Cup glory, with ParisLongchamp form franked by the likes of Sevenna’s Knight and the ever-game Trueshan behind him.
For all his potential, questions remain – not least whether he will stay the full two and a half miles. But Routh is optimistic: “He’s always going away at the end of his races – you’d be confident he’d stay. And the way he quickened last time, it looked tight for a moment but he just kept finding more. He’s come out of it well, and he’s got barely any miles on the clock.”
Gold Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£650,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 1
18 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 /415-3 Absurde 7 9-4 W P Mullins
2 1D5-583 Al Nayyir 7 9-4 Tom Clover
3 0416-4 Burdett Road 5 9-4 James Owen
4 643-22 Coltrane 8 9-4 Andrew Balding
5 9-3959 Continuous 5 9-4 A P O'Brien
6 04/119 Dubai Future 9 9-4 Saeed bin Suroor
7 52-332 Sevenna's Knight 5 9-4 A Fabre
8 95451- Sober 6 9-4 W P Mullins
3212-3 Sweet William 6 9-4 John & Thady Gosden
10 323-51 Trawlerman 7 9-4 John & Thady Gosden
11 4223-4 Trueshan 9 9-4 Alan King
12 31-211 Wonder Legend 5 9-4 James Ferguson
13 3006-1 Yashin 6 - - - Michael Bell
14 1-1131 Candelari 4 9-3 F-H Graffard
15 /54-44 Feigning Madness 4 9-3 Ralph Beckett
16 2221-1 Illinois 4 9-3 A P O'Brien
17 1111-2 Jan Brueghel 6 4 9-3 A P O'Brien
18 80-230 Divine Comedy 7 - - - Harry Eustace
THE GOLD CUP - Past Results
2024-WINNER-KYPRIOS A P O'Brien Ryan Moore Moyglare,Magnier,Tabor,Smith,Westerberg 6 9-4 11/10F
2022-WINNER-KYPRIOS A P O'Brien Ryan Moore Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg 4 9-03 13/8F
2021-WINNER-SUBJECTIVIST Mark Johnston Joe Fanning Dr J Walker 4-9-01 13/2
2020-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 6-9-02 4/5F
2019-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 5-9-02 Evs F
2018-WINNER-STRADIVARIUS John Gosden Frankie Dettori Bjorn Nielsen 4-9-01 7/4JF
2017-WINNER-BIG ORANGE 6-9-02 Owner-Bill & Tim Gredley; Trainer-Michael Bell; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-5/1
2ND-Order Of St George 5-9-02 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore;
SP-5/6 Fav
3RD-Harbour Law 4-9-00 Owner-Jackie Cornwell; Trainer-Laura Mongan; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-33/1
14 ran; Time-4m 22.4s; Dist-sh, 6
2016-WINNER-ORDER OF ST GEORGE 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-10/11 Fav
2ND-Mizzou 5-9-02 Owner-Jon Kelly; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-10/1
3RD-Sheikhzayedroad 7-9-02 Owner-Mohammed Jaber; Trainer-David Simcock; Jockey-Martin Harley; SP-40/1
17 ran; Time-4m 26.21s; Dist-3, 2¼
2015-WINNER-TRIP TO PARIS 4-9-00 Owner-La Grange Partnership; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-12/1
2ND-Kingfisher 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP- 5/1
3RD-Forgotten Rules 5-9-00 Owner-Moyglare Stud; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran; Time-4m 22.61s; Dist-11⁄4, nk
2014-WINNER-LEADING LIGHT 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey- Joseph O’Brien; SP-10/11F *fin 3RD promoted to
2ND-Missunited 7-8-13 Owner-Vanessa Hutch; Trainer-Michael Winters IRE; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-40/1 *fin 4TH promoted to
3RD-Brown Panther 6-9-02 Owner-Andrew Black & Owen Promotions Ltd; Trainer-Tom Dascombe; Jockey- Richard Kingscote; SP-5/1
13 ran; Time-4m 21.09s; Dist-nk, sh, 4½ (original finishing order) Estimate finished second but was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race test
2013-WINNER-ESTIMATE 4-8-11 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Simenon 6-9-02 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/1
3RD-Top Trip 4-9-00 Owner-J Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-7/1
14 ran; Time-4m 20.51s; Dist-nk, 1
2012-WINNER-COLOUR VISION 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-6/1
2ND-Opinion Poll 6-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-5/1
3RD-Saddler’s Rock 4-9-00 Owner-Michael O’Flynn; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/2
9 ran; Time-4m 42.05s; Dist-½, nk 4/5 Fav Fame And Glory (7th)
2011-WINNER-FAME AND GLORY 5-9-02 Owner-Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Fitri Hay; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Opinion Poll 5-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-16/1
3RD-Brigantin 4-9-00 Owner-Team Valor; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Pierre-Charles Boudot; SP-16/1
15 ran; Time-4m 37.51s; Dist-3, 4½
2010-WINNER-RITE OF AGE 6-9-02 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen;
SP-20/1
2ND-Age Of Aquarius 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Eduard Mordukhovitch; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-8/1
3RD-Purple Moon 7-9-02 Owner-Craig Bennett; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-12/1
12 ran; Time-4m 16.92s; Dist-nk, 6 11/4 Fav Ask (5th)
2009-WINNER-YEATS 8-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Patkai 4-9-00 Owner-Ballymacoll Stud; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/2
3RD-Geordieland 8-9-02 Owner-A Taylor, K Conlan, D Carberry; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-11/4
9 ran; Time-4m 20.73s; Dist-3½, 15
2008-WINNER-YEATS 7-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 7-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-15/2
3RD-Coastal Path 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre-FR; Jockey-Stephane Pasquier; SP-2/1
10 ran, Time-4m 21.14s, Dist-5, 4½,
2007-WINNER-YEATS 6-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-8/13 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 6-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-12/1
3RD-Le Miracle 6-9-02 Owner-Gestut Hachtsee; Trainer-Werner Baltromei GER; Jockey-Dominique Boeuf; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time 4m 20.78s, Dist 1½, 3½
2006-WINNER-YEATS 5-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon;
SP-7/1
2ND-Reefscape 5-9-02 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-100/30
3RD-Distinction 7-9-02 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran, Time-4m 20.45s, Dist-4, hd
2005-WINNER-WESTERNER 6-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer-Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-7/4
Fav
2ND-Distinction 6-9-00 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-33/1
3RD-Vinnie Roe 7-9-02 Owner-Seamus Sheridan; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-9/2
17 ran, Time-4m 19.49s, Dist- nk, 5 (Run at York)
2004-WINNER-PAPINEAU 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-5/1
2ND-Westerner 5-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer: Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Gerald Mosse; SP-13/2
3RD-Darasim 6-9-02 Owner-Markus Graff; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-28/1
13 ran, Time-4m 20.90s, Dist-1½, 2½ 5/4 Fav Mr Dinos (6th)
2003-WINNER-MR DINOS 4-9-00 Owner-Constantinos Shiacolas; Trainer-Paul Cole; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-3/1
2ND-Persian Punch 10-9-02 Owner-Jeff Smith; Trainer-David Elsworth; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-20/1
3RD-Pole Star 5-9-02 Owner-D I Russell; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Pat Eddery; SP-12/1
12 ran, Time: 4m 20.15s, Dist-6, ¾ 5/2 Fav Mamool (5th)
