by Myra Lewyn

Trainer Aidan O’Brien’s brilliant stayer Yeats seized the lead from Tungsten Strike two furlongs out and romped away to an authoritative victory in the Royal Bank of Scotland Goodwood Cup (Eng-G2) on Thursday at Goodwood.

The seven-year-old Sadler’s Wells horse tallied by seven lengths under Johnny Murtagh while covering two miles in 3:25.75 on good to firm turf. Multiple group winner and pacesetter Tungsten Strike continued on gallantly for second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of multiple group-placed Sargara, who finished third in the eight-horse field.

Yeats, who captured the Goodwood Cup in 2006, is perfect in three starts this season. Thursday’s facile win follows his third consecutive victory in the Gold Cup (Eng-G1) on June 19 at Royal Ascot.

Tungsten Strike, third in the '06 Goodwood Cup, opened a clear lead early and set a steady pace under Darryll Holland while Yeats saved energy comfortably back in second. Murtagh gave Yeats some rein at the top of the stretch and he willingly accelerated and reeled in that opponent with a quarter-mile to run. Yeats romped unchallenged to the finish line to earn his 13th win in 20 career starts.

“He’s a great horse and a true warrior,” Murtagh told the Guardian. “He was a little fresh at Ascot and today was much better. He’s got a very high cruising speed—when he gets into top gear he can maintain it constantly. He’s truly a great stayer.”

Bred in Ireland by Barronstown Stud and Orpendale, Yeats was Europe’s champion stayer in 2006 and ’07. Winner of last year’s Irish Field St. Leger (Ire-G1), he is out of the Top Ville mare Lyndonville.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor