Scandinavia Delivers 100th Royal Ascot Winner For Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien has made history at Royal Ascot by becoming the first trainer to reach 100 winners, thanks to Scandinavia’s determined victory in the 2026 Gold Cup. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Scandinavia held off defending champion Trawlerman in a thrilling finish. The victory also marks O'Brien's 10th Gold Cup triumph, highlighting his dominance in one of Ascot's premier races. The achievement cements both O’Brien’s legacy and Scandinavia’s rise as a top stayer on the European scene.
- Aidan O'Brien is the first trainer to reach 100 Royal Ascot winners
- Scandinavia secured a hard-fought Gold Cup victory over Trawlerman
- O'Brien now holds a record 10 Gold Cup titles, cementing his legacy
Aidan O'Brien became the first trainer to saddle 100 Royal Ascot winners when Scandinavia stormed to victory in Thursday's Ascot Gold Cup under Ryan Moore.
The four-year-old produced a determined display in the meeting's premier staying contest, battling past defending champion Trawlerman in the closing stages to secure a landmark success for Ballydoyle.
The victory also handed O'Brien a record-extending 10th Gold Cup triumph, further enhancing his remarkable record in one of Royal Ascot's most prestigious races.
Having arrived at this year's meeting on 99 winners, O'Brien reached the century milestone in fitting fashion. The Gold Cup has long been a race synonymous with the Irish master, who has previously won the staying feature with stars including Yeats, Fame And Glory, Leading Light, Order Of St George and Kyprios.
Ryan Moore positioned Scandinavia prominently throughout the two-and-a-half-mile contest before asking his mount to challenge entering the straight. Trawlerman refused to surrender his crown without a fight, but Scandinavia found another gear late to settle the contest.
The Gold Cup victory continues the rise of Scandinavia, who developed into one of Europe's leading stayers last season and has now delivered one of the defining performances of his career on racing's grandest stage.
For O'Brien, reaching 100 Royal Ascot winners is another extraordinary milestone in a career packed with major achievements. That the landmark arrived in the Gold Cup — a race he has dominated for much of the past two decades — made the occasion all the more memorable.
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