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The ultimate success: Paris lands Gold!

Thu 18 June 2015

Trip To Paris crosses the line at Ascot.

Some fairy tales are so far-fetched they are scarcely worth writing. But every now and again, in that once in a lifetime moment, the ultimate dream becomes a hard and fast reality, and that was the case on Thursday when Trip To Paris, beaten in a Kempton handicap ten weeks ago, landed the most prestigious prize at the most prestigious meeting when running out a one and a quarter-length winner of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Supplemented for a fee of £35,000 on Friday after hours of anxious deliberation amongst his loyal band of owners, TTP had already secured his place in La Grange folklore by landing the Chester Cup in May. But he elevated his standing from heritage handicap winner to the best stayer in Britain when Graham Lee, who maintained the partnership following the defection of Clever Cookie, thrust him up the inside rail, led over a furlong out and stayed on resolutely to repel the challenge of Kingfisher.

Having been trapped wide a little early, TTP was settled in the second half of the field as twenty lengths separated first and last entering Swinley Bottom. The solid early pace was maintained heading down the back, and as the field turned for home long-time leader Forever Now began to wilt as hot favourite Forgotten Rules tanked into the race on the outside.

But Graham, ice cool as always, took the brave man’s route up the inside and the gap appeared in dream-like fashion, allowing him to quicken to the lead and appear in no danger thereafter, with Ryan Moore enduring a troubled run on Kingfisher and Forgotten Rules unable to go with them inside the last.

It is impossible to overstate the importance of this success to the yard. We are exceptionally privileged to house the global superstar that is Red Cadeaux, but we know his story can’t last forever, and to have a horse of a similar ilk is both hugely exciting and incredibly fortuitous.

So many people deserve the utmost plaudits in the TTP story. Darkie, the ultimate professional who rides the horse every day, has done a superb job with him as has Steve, who turns him out immaculately. Graham Lee, who guided Amberleigh House to Grand National success 11 years ago, has ridden him fantastically this season but most of all the plaudits must go the La Grange Partnership, who never shirk a challenge and are the ultimate sporting bunch.

Thank you for all of the kind messages of congratulations – we appreciate them greatly. This will take some time to sink in. What a momentous afternoon. 



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