 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Aidan O’Brien's Tower of London surged from the rear to claim victory in the fifth edition of the US$2.5 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, narrowly defeating a determined Enemy at the finish line by a mere head.
Initially positioned towards the rear of the field, jockey Ryan Moore skillfully guided the son of Galileo into a clear path after negotiating the final bend. Tower of London unleashed his strongest effort in the last 200 meters, crossing the line with a winning time of 3:04.43.
Enemy, ridden by Richard Kingscote, finished second for the second consecutive year in this challenging race. Following closely behind was Giavellotto, ridden by Oisin Murphy, who claimed third place, trailing by three-quarters of a length.
This victory marked a significant milestone for renowned Irish trainer O’Brien, securing his first win on The Saudi Cup card. Tower of London was trained by O’Brien for the esteemed Coolmore ownership syndicate, which includes Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Westerberg.
Ryan Moore, jockey, Tower Of London, 1st, "He’s a lightly raced horse. He’s from a very good family, a brother to Capri and the family have done well for the yard. He’d been working well, they always held him in high regard. We had to be patient and a few horses were dropping back. We eventually got out and he got there at the end. Today was the first time he was able to run on a flat track on quick ground and Aidan has had a lot of faith."
MV Magnier, ownership representative, "In fairness to Aidan he was quite confident coming out here and Ryan said he was going to take his time. He’s pretty cool, relaxed and nothing fazes him. I haven’t spoken to Aidan yet but I’d say the chances are he could go for Dubai Gold Cup but it’ll be up to Aidan and the lads. I’ve been here for the past few days, it’s remarkable the welcome we’ve got and the people have been brilliant."