Yeats makes history at Ascot Yeats raced into the record books by becoming the first horse in history to claim the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for a fourth time. Aidan O'Brien's eight-year-old may have disappointed on his reappearance at Navan, but he was sent off the heavily-backed 6-4 market leader on his return to the Royal meeting. Settled in behind the early leaders, Johnny Murtagh sent him to the front well before the turn for home and he quickly put distance between himself and his rivals. Patkai was the only one to come out of the pack and make inroads up the home straight, but Yeats found plenty for pressure to record a momentous victory. Murtagh was actually one of the first of the principals at work before the turn for home, but his mount was more than willing to respond and the advantage he took early in the straight proved decisive. At that stage, his main market rivals Patkai and Geordieland were travelling strongly at the rear of the field and began to make ground in the straight. Patkai was the one to threaten but he could only get within three and a half lengths of the brilliant champion, while Geordieland, runner-up for the last two years, had to make do with third this time around, 15 lengths further adrift under Shane Kelly. O'Brien said: "Unbelievable - that's all I can say. I was so sick this morning as I really believed this couldn't happen. "History is very hard to change, we knew we had a wonderful horse but usually fairytales don't come true. "You dream and dream and dream, we were in this position and we never would be again - great things can happen. "It's unbelievable and I want to say a big thanks to everyone involved." The trainer continued: "I think today Johnny had a lot of pressure on his shoulders and the way he handled it, and the way he rode it, it was something else. I couldn't believe it. "This is a big credit to everyone involved (with the horse) every day. "He's an unbelievable horse and we knew there would never be another one of him. "How Johnny could ride him with such pressure on him. I've never felt pressure for any race before and this horse was the only time." Murtagh said: "Muhammad Ali told everyone he was the greatest and he was, and Yeats has shown everyone today that he is the ultimate heavyweight champion. "I had no doubts. After Navan I looked at Aidan and he told me 'he'll be grand for Ascot'. "We kept saying the ground was too soft at Navan but nobody believed us and people tried to pick holes in him. He loves fast ground, he loves Royal Ascot and he comes alive here. "This is one the greatest days of my riding career and the feeling I had coming past the line for the horse alone was incredible. "I've had a good week but for the horse to win four Ascot Gold Cups is fantastic and the crowd turned out in force to see him. It's good for racing, and Yeats is everything that's positive about racing." Peter Reynolds, racing manager to Patkai's owners Ballymacoll Stud, said: "He ran a very good race and he stayed the trip. He just ran a little freely down to the start. "He obviously loves it round here and it was no disgrace to be beaten by a very good horse - who is a specialist round here. "Sir Michael (Stoute) and Ryan (Moore) were very happy with him but I can't tell you anything about plans at the moment." Jamie Osborne said of Geordieland: "It was a good time, although they did look to be going slow. "We had a big bridge to gap in the straight. "I'm disappointed, but it was a great performance by the winner." Kelly admitted: "We were beaten again by an exceptional horse."
