Illinois defeats Highbury to complete one-two for trainer Aidan O'Brien in Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot; Ryan Moore rides 80th winner at the meeting to move just one behind Frankie Dettori on the all-time list
Wednesday 19 June 2024 16:26, UK
Aidan O'Brien completed a one-two in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot as Illinois fended off stablemate Highbury in a battling finish.
The 7/4 favourite was also providing Ryan Moore with his 80th Royal Ascot winner and he is now just one behind Frankie Dettori, who holds the record for current jockeys (81) and is second on the all-time list behind Lester Piggott's 116 landmark.
Illinois, second to subsequent Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly in the Lingfield Derby Trial, disputed the lead with Mr Hampstead for much of the 1m 6f Group Two contest before going for home early in the straight.
Highbury, ridden by Wayne Lordan, mounted a strong late challenge but Illinois held on to score by a length and a quarter despite drifting left in the closing stages.
Birdman completed a clean sweep for Ireland as he claimed third place, three-quarters of a length further back, ahead of Meydaan.
O'Brien, also responsible for fifth-placed The Equator - said: "We felt any three of them could win, but Ryan made the decision on this one. When Diego (Velazquez) got rerouted to the King Edward VII Stakes, this horse got rerouted to here.
"Ryan felt he would stay. He felt when he got beat at Leopardstown it was the ground and he felt he was very green when he went to Lingfield.
"Obviously, all those types of horses had a much easier time than they would normally have because they would be steered into the Derby, but when City (Of Troy) was there, it gave all these horses a chance to develop slowly.
"He's obviously a Leger-type horse and is going to improve from three to four."
He added: "He's a middle-distance, mile-and-six type horse and he's going to get better from three to four. He's a big, sound honest horse and a bit of a baby mentally still. He might have a bit of a rest now and go to York on the way to the St Leger, something like that.
"I think he might have a little more class than just a Cup horse and I think his sister (Danedream) won the Arc. Ryan said he was kind of caught in a position he didn't want to and wasn't getting an easy lead, he had to do it tough. When he went to the front he flattened out and he thought the race was over and then he asked him to come again and he did. He probably learned a lot today.
"I will be sure he is going to be a very good mile-and-a-half horse who will also get further."
On equalling Sir Henry Cecil's record of eight Queen's Vase wins, O'Brien said: "Obviously we're over the moon and we're so pleased for everybody. It's obviously massive teamwork all the way along and I'm always mentioning lots of names, but there are so many people I don't mention. There are a lot of people doing work that influences the careers of horses even before they are born and I never mention their names and I would love to.
"It's all about teamwork and we're just grateful to have the small part we have and it's unbelievable. They are homebred horses and there are so many people involved. It's incredible to be working with the people we are."
On the runner-up: "He's only a baby and we didn't know what to expect, but he's obviously a good horse. Wayne (Lordan) said he was babyish through the race but will come on as well. He is probably a Leger-type horse as well. He could go to Goodwood and then back to York. These are both Leger-type horses who could quicken up."
