Trinity College produced a dominant front-running display in the Hampton Court Stakes to complete a treble on day three of Royal Ascot for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
With the formidable pair having already landed the Norfolk with Charles Darwin and the Ribblesdale with Garden Of Eden, French Derby fourth Trinity College was the 5-2 favourite for his Group Three assignment and dictated at the head of affairs from the start.
Tornado Alert, fourth in the 2000 Guineas and sixth in the Derby, was Trinity College’s nearest pursuer throughout and tried to keep tabs on him in the straight, but the winner found another gear inside the final furlong and was well on top as he passed the post with three and a half lengths in hand.
Aidan O’Brien
O’Brien was delighted to see the son of Dubawi get his moment in the spotlight after his fine effort at Chantilly last time and said: “It was a lovely run in the French Derby and Wayne (Lordan) rode him the last day and we were very happy.
“He wasn’t beaten that far and he turned around the form with Detain (third in Chantilly) here.
“Ryan gave him a lovely, uncomplicated ride. He’s a lovely, straightforward horse and his trip is a mile and a quarter.
“We’ve always thought he was a nice horse and he’s only really started to progress now – you would have to be very happy with that.
“I would say 10 furlongs is his trip and he’s very comfortable at that distance because he’s not slow.
“He could go to America and there is an American Derby (at Churchill Downs) he could run in but the problem is it is only in a couple of weeks, so we will have to see how he is, it could be too soon. He’s a good member of the team.”
Ryan Moore
Trinity College provided Moore with his 90th winner at the Royal meeting, 17 years on from his first at the summer showpiece aboard Sir Michael Stoute‘s Colony.
Moore said: “It’s great to get to 90. I’ve rode for great people for a lot of years and a lot of people who put in a lot of hard work and sweat. Obviously having Aidan in my corner is also a massive help.”
Saeed bin Suroor is eager to get Tornado Alert’s head in front next time.
He said: “He ran well to finish sixth in the Derby, and now second in a nice race here is good. He is improving. We will see how he comes out of this, but we will look for a Group Three race.”
Glittering Legend was third for James Fanshawe but the trainer expects the horse to move to a new country now.
He said: “He ran really well. He got a bump early on, which just set him alight a bit, but he dropped his head really well and kept on well.
“Unfortunately, I think he’s off to Hong Kong now, but he’s done really well. I think it will turn out to be a good race.”
