Illinois flies the flag of O'Brien in wide-open Gold Cup
Stellar renewal of Royal Ascot showpiece but absence of Kyprios still felt
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Gold Cup contender Illinois is already a Royal Ascot winner after last year's Queen's Vase success (Racing Post Photos)
You never know for sure whether they’ll stay the Gold Cup trip until you try it. Once you go beyond two miles, you’re entering unknown territory. - Aidan O'Brien on Illinois
History tells us to beware of discounting Aidan O'Brien's second string — or even third string, for that matter, writes James Toney.
Indeed, it’s been eight years since his sixth choice won the Epsom Derby, so don’t rule out a more than capable understudy in Illinois in what looks to be a wide-open and stellar renewal of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
In an alternative world, the brilliant stayer Kyprios — O'Brien’s best since the legendary Yeats — would be tilting at history this afternoon, bidding for a third win in four years.
But his retirement in May threw a spanner in the works of the showpiece race at the world’s most glamorous racing festival.
This marathon two-mile-four-furlong trip is a truly international affair. In addition to O’Brien’s Green Team challenge, there is French contender Candelari, now a proven Group One performer after his win in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp.
And then there is home favourite Trawlerman — the leading hope of the in-form training partnership John and Thady Gosden, who, with four wins already this week, are currently topping the overall standings ahead of the 12-time winner from Ballydoyle.
And if it weren’t for Kyprios, Trawlerman would already be a Gold Cup winner, having been narrowly beaten last year in a thrilling finish. He stays all day, loves Ascot, and heads the market for the home team.
"Illinois has slotted in for Kyprios and everything has gone well in the build-up," said O'Brien, who, with nine wins and counting, is the most successful trainer in the history of a race that dates back to 1807.
"We were delighted with him after his last run, as we felt he’d improve significantly for it. He stays very well but has a bit of class to go with it — and that’s what you need in a Gold Cup.
"You never know for sure whether they’ll stay the Gold Cup trip until you try it. Once you go beyond two miles, you’re entering unknown territory. We’ll find out at the same time as everyone else, but we’ve always thought he’d stay."
O'Brien has already banked two winners across the first two days — with eye-catching two-year-olds Gstaad and True Love winning the Coventry and Queen Mary Stakes, underlining their Classic potential for next season.
Another of the Ballydoyle babies could strike today, with Charles Darwin an odds-on favourite in the Norfolk Stakes after two confident wins at Navan.
However, arguably the pick of his three-pronged attack in Berkshire comes in the Ribblesdale Stakes, where Catalina Delcarpio has plenty of positives — with the only concern being the now rattling good-to-firm ground.
“Catalina won well on debut and then ran well again when second at Navan,” he said.
“She’s trained well since, and we’re looking forward to it. She’s run well in both her starts, she’s bred to be a middle-distance filly, and we’re really looking forward to the race.”
Indeed, it’s been eight years since his sixth choice won the Epsom Derby, so don’t rule out a more than capable understudy in Illinois in what looks to be a wide-open and stellar renewal of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
In an alternative world, the brilliant stayer Kyprios — O'Brien’s best since the legendary Yeats — would be tilting at history this afternoon, bidding for a third win in four years.
But his retirement in May threw a spanner in the works of the showpiece race at the world’s most glamorous racing festival.
This marathon two-mile-four-furlong trip is a truly international affair. In addition to O’Brien’s Green Team challenge, there is French contender Candelari, now a proven Group One performer after his win in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp.
And then there is home favourite Trawlerman — the leading hope of the in-form training partnership John and Thady Gosden, who, with four wins already this week, are currently topping the overall standings ahead of the 12-time winner from Ballydoyle.
And if it weren’t for Kyprios, Trawlerman would already be a Gold Cup winner, having been narrowly beaten last year in a thrilling finish. He stays all day, loves Ascot, and heads the market for the home team.
"Illinois has slotted in for Kyprios and everything has gone well in the build-up," said O'Brien, who, with nine wins and counting, is the most successful trainer in the history of a race that dates back to 1807.
"We were delighted with him after his last run, as we felt he’d improve significantly for it. He stays very well but has a bit of class to go with it — and that’s what you need in a Gold Cup.
"You never know for sure whether they’ll stay the Gold Cup trip until you try it. Once you go beyond two miles, you’re entering unknown territory. We’ll find out at the same time as everyone else, but we’ve always thought he’d stay."
O'Brien has already banked two winners across the first two days — with eye-catching two-year-olds Gstaad and True Love winning the Coventry and Queen Mary Stakes, underlining their Classic potential for next season.
Another of the Ballydoyle babies could strike today, with Charles Darwin an odds-on favourite in the Norfolk Stakes after two confident wins at Navan.
Paddy Twomey has been in red-hot form in Ireland this season and was all smiles after Carmers landed the Queen’s Vase yesterday — his first Royal Ascot winner.A first win for Paddy Twomey at Royal Ascot 👏
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) June 18, 2025
A stunning race by Carmers in The Queen's Vase 🙌#RoyalAscot @paddytwomey pic.twitter.com/hylfUxGmh9
However, arguably the pick of his three-pronged attack in Berkshire comes in the Ribblesdale Stakes, where Catalina Delcarpio has plenty of positives — with the only concern being the now rattling good-to-firm ground.
“Catalina won well on debut and then ran well again when second at Navan,” he said.
“She’s trained well since, and we’re looking forward to it. She’s run well in both her starts, she’s bred to be a middle-distance filly, and we’re really looking forward to the race.”