Events / Malcolm Pannett / 17 June 2009 / 2

Often referred to as the Ascot Gold Cup the feature race of the Royal meeting is actually entitled simply the Gold Cup. Malcolm Pannett looks back at the race's history

The Gold Cup decides the champion stayer of the season and for a century was the target of the previous season's Derby winner.

Racing at Ascot started in 1711 after Queen Anne declared the area of land near to Windsor Castle as ideal for horses running at full stretch. The first Royal meeting took place in 1768 and the inaugural Gold Cup was run in 1807 when Master Jackey, who had won a race at the track the previous day, beat three rivals watched by King George III - three years before his 'madness' set in.

The race soon gained prestige and in 1828 the line up included three classic winners. Zinganee beat them all sparking controversy as King George VI, whose ambition it was to win the Gold Cup, had failed to take up an option to buy the winner and as a result of his pique decreed that only members of the Jockey Club could own runners in the race.

Luckily a few years later William IV reversed the decision and the race became open to all again which improved the quality and size of the fields.

In 1844 Czar Nicholas I of Russia attended and the winner, an unnamed colt by Defence, owned by Lord Albemarble was then named Emperor in his honour. The Czar reciprocated presented a plate to be given as a prize for the race which was renamed the Emperor's Plate. In the following decade both The Flying Dutchman (1849) and Teddington (1853) added the Emperor's Plate to their Derby successes.

After nine years the Emperor's Cup reverted to the Gold Cup, after Anglo-Russian relations broke down with the declaration of war in the Crimea, and was won by the first Triple Crown-winner West Australian.

Persimmon (1897), one of several to add the Gold Cup to his Derby win, was owned by the Prince of Wales while his former-mistress Lily Langtry, who has a race at Glorious Goodwood named after her, owned the 1900-winner Merman.

The other horses to win the Derby and the Gold Cup are Thormanby (1861), Gladiateur (1866), Blue Gown (1868), Cremorne (1873), Doncaster (1875), St Gatien (1885), Isinglass (1895), Gainsborough (1918), Owen Tudor (1942) and Ocean Swell (1945).

Anticipation who won in 1819, adding to his initial success in 1816, was the first dual winner and has been followed by many others including, in the modern era, Le Moss (1979 and 1980), Ardross (1981 and 1982), Gildoran (1984 and 1985) see below, Sadeem (1988 and 1989), Drum Taps (1992 and 1993), Kayf Tara (1998 and 2000) and Royal Rebel (2001 and 2002).

Only two horses have won three times; Sagaro (1975-1977), ridden each time by Lester Piggott who won 11 renewals; and Yeats who equaled the achievement last year (see below).

In 1920 Buchan finished first, but was disqualified in favour of Tangiers. The same fate befell Royal Gait (1988) when Sadeem was the recipient. However Rock Roi was even unluckier as he was kicked out for an illegal substance (Bute) in 1971, with the race going to Random Shot and then demoted again, behind Erimo Hawk, the next year after being deemed guilty of interference

There was no race in 1915, 1916 or 1940 and the race was run at Newmarket 1917-1918 and 1941-1944.

The 2005 race, won by Westerner, was run at Royal York where the course was modified into a full circuit to accommodate the long-distance races.

25 years ago - Pretty Picture and Karadar cut out a good clip on fast ground setting up a memorable finish. Gildoran led into the straight but was joined by first Ore then Condell. Steve Cauthen kept asking and Gildoran kept giving and with great resilience Gildoran prevailed and in doing so broke the course record. The son of Rheingold also won the following year when ridden by Brent Thomson (pictured above).

10 years ago - A record field of 17 lined up with Nedawi sent off the market leader. However the previous season's St Leger-winner did himself no favours by failing to settle and it was left to the Aga Khan's Enzeli to sweep through from the rear to hold Invermark and previous winners Kayf Tara and Celeric.

Five years ago - Flying dismounts all round as Papineau provided a fourth win for both jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer Saeed bin Suroor. The son of Singspiel completed a seasonal hat-trick winning by a length and a half from the ear-plugged Westerner and the Mark Johnston-trained pair Darasim and Royal Rebel.

Last year - Yeats, at 11-8 favourite, emulated Sagaro by becoming the second triple winner - and each time he was ridden by a different jockey. Aidan O'Brien's charge saw off a strong challenge by Geordieland before easing away to win by five lengths ridden by Johnny Murtagh. Geordieland had also been runner-up the previous year when Yeats was partnered by Mick Kinane. The son of Saddler's Wells gained his first Gold Cup in 2005 when as a 7-1 shot he beat Reefscape and Distinction under Kieren Fallon.

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1. gemma | 27 November 2009

   hi i own maquilleux,gildorans son,have you got or can you get any pics or footage of gildoran winning ascot in 1984 and 1985 please ,ring me on 07929 723751

2. Ginny Dorrington | 04 December 2010

   I have a painting of the Ascot Gold Cup 1971. Two horses - one jockey in pink silks - plain hat and shirt and the other blue and white horizontal stripes. I am trying to find out who they may be and very much hope you can help me.
   Yours sincerely
   Ginny Dorrington

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