Ryan Moore hit back in his bid to become Royal Ascot’s leading rider this week with a gritty victory onboard Joseph O’Brien’s Okita Soushi (9/1).
The victory came just over an hour after brother Donnacha landed the opening contest with Porta Fortuna.
The five-year-old finished third in the Copper Horse Handicap at this meeting last year and seemingly appreciated the drop back in trip and return to handicap company following a fifth-place finish in the Group 3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown last-time-out.
It was yet another exceptional ride from top jockey Ryan Moore who found himself parked widest of all throughout.
Success hardly looked likely for the son of Galileo as the field began to turn for home with Ryan Moore already having to urge his mount along. However, proven stamina prevailed as the five-year-old stuck on doggedly down the centre of the track to finish a neck in front of Alan King's Hms President (15/2).
Front-runner Live Your Dream (11/1) kept on well to finish back in third with Kim Bailey's Ajeero filling the fourth place at 20/1.
It was trainer Joseph O'Brien's second Royal Ascot success and he said: "Okita Soushi ran a great race here last year, and it is special to get a winner this week. He needs the right set-up but I thought it was a wonderful ride by Ryan. I am delighted for everyone, all the owners and the team at home.
"He is always slow early. Ryan was happy to take his time and come with one run late. And if we got the right set-up, we knew we'd have a chance to win, but we were a little hostage to how it set-up.
"We have had a frustrating week. We have hit the crossbar a few times, but it is great to get a winner now."
Of Ryan Moore, he added: "He is the best jockey in the world, so when we are lucky enough to get him the odd time, it is very special. He has been riding at the top of his game for a number of years now, and he has had a wonderful week.
He is a special jockey. It is great to have him, I am not sure he has ridden a winner for me before? So delighted."
And of his brother's winner earlier today, O'Brien said: "I am super proud. Donnacha is doing a fantastic job. His two-year-olds have been on fire and he deserved an Ascot winner. I am delighted for the owners and mum bred the filly – it is a special day."
Moore said: "Okita Soushi has stamina and he's brave – these Galileos have a will to win, which this one has.
"The O'Briens are an amazing family, and I am lucky enough to have ridden for all three of them [Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha]. Aidan's achievements will probably never be matched, but the two boys are doing really well.
"Joseph told me exactly what to do with this fellow and he had it to a tee. Luckily, Aidan didn't have a runner in the race and I was able to ride this one."
Alan King said of HMS President: "Huge run! What can I say, I am delighted. I thought at the furlong pole that Joseph's horse had got him, and just for a second, that we might come back. Bar winning, I couldn't be happier with him."
Rossa Ryan added: "HMS President ran his heart out. He is a six-year-old against some of these younger horses and Alan had him in great stead.
He's already won a £50,000 to the winner handicap and he hasn't been out of the first two this year.
Fair dues to Alan and the team, they've really got inside this lad's head and transformed him. He has the ability whether it's 12 furlongs or 14 furlongs. He's got it all and for a great bunch of owners as well."
