Racing:Rite Of Passage sprung a 20-1 surprise as he made a triumphant return to the Flat in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Dermot Weld's charge was last seen finishing third in the Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, although he had won his two previous starts on the level.
The six-year-old was one of the longer-priced contenders but looked far from an outsider as he came to challenge Age Of Aquarius halfway up the straight and the pair settled down to fight it out. The latter was brave having taken up the running on the turn for home, but Rite Of Passage wore him down to score by a neck in course-record time.
Weld said: “The plan was hatched a long time ago. It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win and two previous runners, Vinnie Roe and Vintage Crop, finished second so I thought it could be third time lucky.
“We had a good draw and obviously we discussed it with Pat (Smullen), he’s a world class rider and I totally left the decisions to Pat how to ride the horse.”
Smullen said: “I was very happy with how the race unfolded. I was very confident he would stay but he’s got speed as well. I got a lovely position just behind the leaders all the way round and got the gap when I needed.
“He quickened up well and it takes a very good horse to win how he did. Johnny (Murtagh, rider of the runner-up) is not an easy man to get the better of, so it’s always nice when you beat him. It was a tremendous race and a great spectacle and I’m just pleased we came out on top of it.”
Connections of the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner-up felt their charge had lost little in defeat. Part-owner Derrick Smith said: “We couldn’t be more happy with him. He ran very respectably — I thought he was going to get swamped a furlong out but he kept going and stayed every yard.
“He was beaten by a better horse on the day. You have to be delighted, although you are obviously disappointed to only just get beaten.”
Purple Moon stayed on strongly in the straight to claim minor honours in third and after some globetrotting exploits over the past couple of years, trainer Luca Cumani may stay in Britain for his next start.
“I’m very proud of him. At his age, having been all round the world, and missing most of last year through injury, you have to say it was a great run,” Cumani said.
“I would be inclined to stay over here and look at races like the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale, although I have spoken to the owner and we will probably put him in the Melbourne Cup again too.”
The Michael Stoute-trained Ask was sent off a well-supported 11-4 favourite but his stamina appeared to give way in this gruelling two-and-a-half-mile contest, a comment which also applied to the Henry Cecil-trained Manifest.