Veteran campaigner Yeats demonstrated why he was named 2006 champion stayer by easily defending his title in the Gold Cup (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot.
The 6-year-old horse has shown no signs of slowing down, capturing all three of his starts this season by a combined 12 1/2 lengths.
The heavy favorite stormed to the front under Mick Kinane with two furlongs left in the 2 1/2 mile marathon, and quickly put daylight between himself and the rest of the field. Second place finisher Geordieland briefly loomed a threat, but Yeats spurted away, and won comfortably by 1 1/2-lengths.
German invader Le Miracle finished third, another 3 1/2-lengths further back.
With the victory, Yeats became the tenth horse to win the Gold Cup more than once. He joins such luminaries as LeMoss, Ardross, Gildoran, and Royal Rebel to win the Cup in successive years.
Another crack at the Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) may be in the cards for the Aidan O'Brien trainee, who finished seventh in that event in 2006.
When asked about the Melbourne Cup, O'Brien said, “All those races are open to him, but it will be discussed with the owners. We would love to come back and win it again (the Gold Cup) for a third time. Hopefully, we will be here.”
Yeats is by Sadler's Wells out of Lyndonville, by Top Ville, and is campaigned by Susan Magnier and Mrs. David Nagle.
Yeats storms towards a repeat win in the Gold Cup.
