Royal Celebration for Estimate Royal Ascot came to life as Estimate made history by taking the Gold Cup in the colours of The Queen. Never before had Britain's most famous staying contest been taken by the monarch, but Her Majesty came to her feet as Ryan Moore's mount gutsily held off all the challenges of Simenon and Top Trip. Settled in the perfect spot close enough to a moderate early pace set by Earl of Tinsdal, Moore was well-positioned to throw down a challenge aboard the 7/2 favourite and the pair skipped past Colour Vision to the front at the furlong-pole and narrowly foiled Simenon's sustained challenge by a neck. Moore brought the winner back to the winner's enclosure via the Royal Box, from where the Queen showed her delight at the success. "She had a great position and she's done so well to hold off the boys," said winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who also sent out Estimate to win the at the meeting 12 months ago. "It's a tremendous thrill and we know how much [The Queen] loves the game. "She's absolutely delighted, she loves racing, she loves her thoroughbreds and she's delighted to have had a girl beat the boys. "It was a mammoth task and I knew she would have to improve again to win, but things had gone very smoothly with her. "Tripwise obviously there had to be doubts but the distaff side of her pedigree screams stamina, so that didn't worry me so much. "When Simenon came I thought he would beat us, but she's so full of guts, isn't she? She's so very relaxed in her races and that's why she is such a good staying mare. "I think she's had a hard race there and she'll definitely have a break now." Simenon's trainer Willie Mullins was not downcast despite defeat, saying: "We're very, very pleased - I thought maybe at the furlong-pole with Johnny [Murtagh] being in such good form, we might get there, but Ryan was brilliant on the winner. "It's probably a brilliant result for racing. The stands erupted from the furlong-marker and people rushed forward to see the winner. It's something I won't forget."
