MARLBOROUGH-trained Mojo Star secured a magnificent second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.
The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old claimed his fifth second place in eight outings on the flat as Ryan Moore rode Kyprios to victory ahead of Stradivarius in third.
Having gone at a slow pace initially, there were plenty in with chances turning into the straight, as the mare Princess Zoe just about hit the front with a furlong out looking to go one better than 12 months ago.
She was soon headed by Kyprios, but Mojo Star, second in the Derby and St Leger last year, and eventually Stradivarius having had to be switched for a run, threw down their challenge.
But it was not to be, as the 13-8 favourite held on for a famous win by half a length with another three-quarters of a length back to Frankie Dettori and Stradivarius, who was bidding to join the O’Brien-trained Yeats as a four-time winner.
Kia Joorabchian, who owns Mojo Star through his Amo Racing team, said: “Mojo Star hasn’t run for an awfully long time. It was his first run this year so to run like that and get the trip was amazing.
“I think if he had a run, he would have been right up there. He is a big, strong horse. Richard (Hannon) has done a great job with him and Rossa (Ryan) has given him a great ride.
“He has never let us down in the Derby, the St Leger. He has had a lot of seconds, but he is going to get there.
“We’ll leave future plans to Richard Hannon and see how he goes.”
Meanwhile, eight-time Gold Cup-winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said of his most recent success: "We’re delighted with him, Ryan gave him a great ride.
“He’s a baby, but he’s a brave horse and he’s going to progress – he’s only a baby and he missed all of last year.
"We thought he would do the Leger, but he got out under the stalls (in the Queen’s Vase) last year and badly bruised his back.
“We couldn’t race him for the rest of the year – he’s a brave horse and we think there’s more to come from him.
“It was a competitive race with Stradivarius and all the good horses. It’s incredible, and it was great Stradivarius was here and he ran in this race. It makes these races even more special and incredible. I’m delighted for all the lads and the team.”
Moore said: “It wasn’t a nice race to ride. Kyprios stepped slow for him which was unusual. I didn’t like the position I was in. I knew I had Frankie on my inside and they were going slow up front.
“I had to move him to the outside and I don’t like doing that, but I felt I had to keep Kyprios going.
“He’s got there and Mojo Star has come to us and this fella kicked in then and it was comfortable at the line.
“It wasn’t a true test today, I don’t think we saw the best of him. I’m glad he has come over here and won – there are plenty more good days to be had with him.
“He is brave. It was a more complicated race than it should have been. I think he was much the best.”
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