Dartmouth is royal winner of thrilling Yorkshire Cup

Moore and Dartmouth pictured after their exciting success in the Betway Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Dartmouth, owned by Her Majesty The Queen, came out on top in a tremendous finish to the £165,000 Betway Yorkshire Cup at York on Friday.

Five horses were in with a chance in the final furlong and were spread right across the track, but it was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Dartmouth, the 11-4 favourite, who got to the front close home to snatch the verdict by a neck from Simple Verse, the 2015 St Leger winner.

The first two were split by the length of the track and close up, between them, was he pace-setting High Jinx. Having his first race for two years, he kept on in gritty fashion and was just a neck away to claim third spot on his first start for Yorkshire trainer Tim Easterby.

Godolphin runner Endless Time was also bang on the premises but Clever Cookie, the winner last year, could not get involved.

“He felt very easy the whole way, he’s got mile-and-a-half pace, he was just doing a little too much in stages,” Moore said: “He travelled beautifully and is such an honest horse, but it didn’t help that I was apart from them and he’s done very well.

“That’s his fourth Group race now, we know what he is, he’s a very honest horse.”

It was Her Majesty’s first Champions Series victor since Estimate won the Gold Cup in 2013. First prize was £93,571.

Her Majesty’s racing advisor John Warren pointed towards the defence of his Hardwicke Stakes crown at Royal Ascot over a mile and a half as being next for Dartmouth.

He said: “I didn’t think he was going to get there because they were so wide. Ryan had this plan to come this side, so he knew what he was doing, but I don’t think he anticipated they were going to be so far away width wise as they were.

“It was hard to see from the stands whether he was going to get up. It was a remarkable ride, he’s an absolute professional.

“This horse is exceptionally brave, so tough and genuine. He always tries. Today proved he can pull out all the stops when he wants to.

“I suspect Sir Michael will be looking at the Hardwicke again. That’s his sort of race.

“He’s an interesting horse because this (an extended mile and five furlongs) is as far as he’s gone. It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the season unfolds after Ascot. We will have to look at the opportunities.”

He added: “The Gold Cup would be a big ask. The thing is he would give his all and may leave his whole season behind. My view is that he’s so good at what he’s doing there’s no need to find out.”