Los Angeles finds plenty to see off Anmaat in Tattersalls Gold Cup

Los Angeles showed class and courage to come out on top in a red-hot renewal of the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien’s 9-4 favourite was ridden by Ryan Moore on his second start of the term, with his opening gambit a smart Mooresbridge Stakes success from White Birch.

The latter horse also lined up in a classy field for the Group One contest, but as Los Angeles threw down his challenge it was Owen Burrows’ Anmaat who loomed up beside him having travelled sweetly into contention.

It looked like the Champion Stakes hero would prevail on his first run since Ascot in October, but former Irish Derby winner Los Angeles clearly had more to offer still and duly put his head down again to prevail by half a length.

Kalpana was third, with White Birch fourth after what was not the smoothest of passages for the talented grey.

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Aidan O’Brien

“We’re delighted, Ryan gave him a brilliant ride,” said O’Brien.

“He’s a good, hardy, tough horse and he’s at his best when the pace is on.

“It was a very good race, they are very high-class horses and you can’t miss a beat with those. Obviously Wayne (Lordan, aboard Continuous) was there to make sure it was a solid pace for everybody and he did great to do that.

“I think they did everything right, they jumped and it was solid. All those riders ride tight and they don’t give each other an inch, but it was a very clean, strong run race.

“The second horse came to him, a very high-class horse, but the pace was solid and there was nowhere to hide out there.

“Ryan was brilliant on him and I’d say he was waiting on someone to come to him because he felt he had plenty when they did come, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Next Steps

Of next steps for Los Angeles the Ballydoyle trainer said: “The plan was to come here and go to the Prince of Wales’s (at Royal Ascot) and then either have a look at the King George or have a little rest and have an Arc trial and then the Arc. That was the plan all year. We’ll take it one day at a time.

“He ran in the Arc last year and it didn’t suit him at all, he got left in front by himself and all he was doing was waiting. It was a bit of a mess for him.

“He’s a big, idle, relaxed horse and when he was there all he was doing was waiting on them to come and take him on.

“When the pace is on in front of him he’ll follow any pace and he’ll fight. No horse likes a fight better than him.

“We were over the moon with him last year and we knew what we did wrong. We knew we should have had something to take him, but it was just the way it was.

Physical Specimen

“As a physical (specimen) he’s massive. It’s hard to believe how big and powerful he is until you stand beside him and he has an incredible mind, he’s so relaxed.”

Of the notable strength of this season’s renewal of the race O’Brien added: “I’d say any race through the whole year is going to find it hard to stand up to the ratings of all these horses. When all these are added up it’s going to be an incredibly high rating band.

“All the top middle-distance, mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half, horses were there. It’s very unusual.

“That’s what we were always hoping this race would turn into, the ratings of this race have gone through the clouds.”

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