Enzeli, the horse that nobody wanted to buy eight months ago, yesterday became only the third Irish-trained winner of Royal Ascot's centrepiece, the Gold Cup, since the Second World War.
Under a wonderfully decisive ride from the champion jockey John Murtagh, the 20 to 1 outsider dominated the race in the straight and held off Invermark by a length and a half with last year's winner Kayf Tara third. The favourite Nedawi could finish only fifth.
Enzeli was just the second Gold Cup runner for trainer John Oxx, who explained: "It's not a race I often have on my agenda. We tend to sell our three year olds and this horse could have been bought last year too except because of various little things he wasn't sold. Thank goodness he wasn't. I think we might keep him now!"
Ignored in the market, Enzeli was a second Group One winner of the week for the Aga Khan who claimed he wasn't surprised by the success. "The dam has had three foals and now they have all won Group Ones, so on breeding he was entitled to do this," he said.
Gladness in 1958 and Levmoss in 1969 were the previous Irish winners of this race and a delighted Murtagh classed the victory as "among the best I've ever had".
He continued: "We've been having a quiet time in Ireland because the horses just haven't been up to scratch this year. Everyone's been working just as hard so this means more to me than Ridgewood Pearl in 1995."
Murtagh never took Enzeli off the fence during the two-and-a-half mile marathon as Solo Mio and Spirit Of Love cut out the pace. But when Michael Kinane edged Persian Punch out for a run, Murtagh slipped Enzeli up the inside.
At the two-furlong pole Murtagh said "go" and Enzeli found an impressive turn of foot. Invermark started to close in the final furlong, but the Irish horse had too much in hand.
It was the second Group One winner of the week for the Aga Khan, although Enzeli carried the second colours, the old colours of the Aga's grandfather.
"The trip was unknown territory but anyone who saw his sister Ebadiyla win the Prix Royal Oak would have been encouraged on breeding," said Oxx. "He had been working really well at home also so I thought he had a chance." Enzeli now has the option of the Goodwood Cup and Oxx also mentioned the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp. The second, Invermark, may avoid Goodwood and go for the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville. Few of those who finished behind Bach in the Chesham Stakes will be in a hurry to take him on again, as Aidan O'Brien's second juvenile winner of the week looked a colt with a real future in beating Hastenby by a half a length.
"He is a lovely colt with plenty of pace; he was able to lie up there. He has won two races now including a stakes and we won't rush him. We won't drop him back in trip but he will be stepped up in class," O'Brien said.
The Ballydoyle trainer's other juvenile, Asanovo, started a little slowly in the Norfolk but ran on to be third to Warm Heart.
Cork-born rider Dane O'Neill completed a double of his own when Bold Edge was his second Royal winner in two days in the Cork & Orrery. The Irish hopes Bianconi and One Won One were well beaten.
