O'Brien Has Staying Power

Yeats set himself up for a profitable staying campaign and a possible trip to Melbourne in November when making a winning seasonal return in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Stepped up to two and a half miles for the first time, the five-year-old saw out the trip with aplomb to beat French raider Reefscape (10-3) by two lengths, with 5-2 market leader Distinction a further head away in third.

Kieren Fallon rode a race full of confidence on the 7-1 chance, who won his sole start a juvenile and had been a short-price favourite to maintain his unblemished record in the 2004 Vodafone Derby only to be ruled out days before the race.

The Goodwood Cup and another tilt at the Irish Leger were mentioned as possibilities for Aidan O'Brien's charge, with a trip down under also on the cards on the first Tuesday in November, Cashmans introducing Yeats into their Melbourne Cup betting at 16-1 while rivals Paddy Power go 10-1. .

'We were going to go for the Melbourne Cup last year but we decided to give him another 12 months so he might go this year if all goes well,' said O'Brien.

'He was unbeaten as a two-year-old and won the Derrinstown and Ballysax Derby trials before pulling muscles.

'We always thought he was a Derby horse and when he missed that we trained him for the Coronation, which he came back and won.

'He then had niggly problems but there was no pressure from the owners and to get him back and for him to win like this is great.

'Kieren was always confident he would stay which was why he went on early. It's great to have a horse that we can aim at the Cup races and we just hope he stays sound, he's something to look forward to.

'We have never had a Cup horse before so I would love to go the Cup route.'

Fallon added: 'He is a tough and genuine horse with a lot of class and it was class that won it for him.

'I switched him off so he used no energy and when I asked him a question his turn of foot was electric.

'I knew he was the best horse in the race and if he stayed he would win.'

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, said of the brave second: 'He got a little bumped but the way the winner has won means we can't complain too badly.

'He's run a brilliant race and it'll be the usual targets for him now. There are a variety of interesting ones, including the Melbourne Cup.'

Harry Herbert, racing manager for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, owners of Distinction, said: 'We have no excuses, he's run a great race but been beaten by a very good horse.

'We'll see what Sir Michael Stoute thinks but maybe we'll try and retain the Goodwood Cup. There will probably be no Melbourne Cup for him this year.'

The race had a sad postscript, however, as Media Puzzle, winner of the 2002 Melbourne Cup, broke down in the final furlong and was quickly dismounted by Pat Smullen.

The Dermot Weld-trained nine-year-old was later put down after receiving extensive veterinary attention.

Paul Struthers, Horseracing Regulatory Authority spokesman, said: 'After breaking down on the racecourse he was taken to the treatment centre at the racecourse stables so they could evaluate the extent of the injury.

'This showed the injuries to his near-fore leg were extensive so it is with sadness that I have to confirm that Media Puzzle has been put down.'

Frankie Dettori received a two-day ban (July 3 and 4) after being found to have caused interference through careless riding aboard Guadalajara.

(C) PA Sport