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Gold Cup draws 18 to go 2 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot Despite Andre Fabre's significant haul of big-race wins, the Group 1 Gold Cup is missing at present, and Khalid Abdullah's Last Train could relieve that burden in Thursday's wide-open renewal at Royal Ascot. Always highly thought of by connections, the Rail Link homebred was a head second in his black-type bow in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and just over a length third in the Group 2 Prix Niel going 12 furlongs at Longchamp in July and September, respectively. He is ground-dependant, as he showed when flopping in third in that track's Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier on soft ground last out on May 26, and may be better judged by his previous win in the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville there four weeks earlier. "If the going remains good or better, I think Last Train has a great chance," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said of the half-brother to Frankel's dam. "It was bottomless last time and we know he goes much better on fast ground. He's always looked like a stayer and although two and a half miles finds everybody out, he was second in a Grand Prix de Paris and I think he's got a bit of class." Past Gold Cup champions have a fine record when returning of late and 2010 hero Rite of Passage demands the utmost respect. Despite being a nine-year-old, Dr. Ronan Lambe's dual-purpose performer has only made the track a dozen times under both codes and is a shining example of Dermot Weld's ability as a trainer. The son of Giant's Causeway made only one outing last year, and it turned out to be a dramatic victory in the Group 3 British Champions Long Distance Cup going two miles at Asoct so the demands of this 2 1/2-mile trip will hold no fears for him. Another who has conquered before is Godolphin's Colour Vision and his subsequent five-race winless sequence sees him wearing a visor for the first time. There is no doubt that success for The Queen's Estimate would be a momentous occasion, and Sir Michael Stoute has brought her along with this one target in mind. Beating the colts in the Group 3 Queen's Vase 12 months ago, the Monsun half-sister to 1999 Gold Cup hero Enzeli looked in rude health when returning to capture the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over the same track and trip last out on May 1. In an edition with a true European flavor, another French contender is Jorge Vasicek's Top Trip, who is sent across by the wily Francois Doumen and looked in need of farther when second in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup going 14 furlongs last out on May 17. "I think the (soft) ground was the reason he ran so cool during the race at York," his trainer told PA Sport. "It shows how good he is that he was still nearly able to win. He should run a proper race, he has improved a lot since York, his rating has gone up a long way anyway. I think he will stay, he's so relaxed he should stay forever." German representation is few and far between at this meeting, but Andreas Wohler has two live shots to aim at the race in Altano and Earl of Tinsdal. Despite finishing third behind his stablemate in the Group 3 Oleander-Rennen going two miles at Hoppegarten last out on May 19, Earl of Tinsdal is four pounds better off here for a 1 3/4-length defeat and has a touch of class as a dual Group 1 winner. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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