Ballydoyle Strikes Early with Tower Of London on World Cup Night

Mark Smith - Sunday March 31

The 2018 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter won the Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) at his next start five months later, and  Tower Of London would not be out of place in the famous 2-miler at Flemington judging by his performance in Saturday’s edition of the Group II staying feature at Meydan on World Cup night.

Tower Of London savages the line (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Ryan Moore for the Coolmore connection, the 4-year-old son of Galileo came with a barnstorming fihish to defeat Al Nayyir (Dubawi) by two lengths with Trawlerman (Goldern Horn) a further one and a half lengths back in third.

It was the third stakes win for the Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Galileo and his fifth from ten starts.

OTI Racing’s Sevenna's Knight (Camelot) finished solidly for sixth.“He ran a great race, he’s still immature," jockey Mickael Barzalona said:

Advertisement

Nothing could be taken from the winner.

“You would have to be very impressed with that,” Aidan O’Brien said.

What a team! (image Grant Courtney)

“He has become a very classy horse. He is very pacey. He quickens so well. Ryan said there wasn’t much pace on, but he was happy to wait with him like he did in Saudi last month. He settles well, then quickens. And he loves that fast ground on a flat track. I am not sure what the plan will be for him. I don’t know if he would get the trip in an Ascot Gold Cup. He might, though. Ryan said he could drop back to a mile and a half, too, so we have options with him. Races like the Coronation Cup or the Hardwicke Stakes we could think about. Ryan was very confident beforehand. We felt he and Auguste Rodin were our best chances of the day, and it was great to start with a win.”

Bred by Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud, Tower Of London is a brother to the Irish Derby winner Capri and a trio of Group III winners Cypress Creek, Brazil and Passion.

Tower Of London’s sister Sovereign Parade is the dam of Commissioning (Kingman) the Champion 2YO Filly in GB in 2022, whose highlight came in the Group 1 Newmarket Fillies' Mile.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Black Type Potential for Zoustar Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy have  plans to tackle Black Type races with promising Zoustar colt Prestar, who scored his second win from just five starts at Randwick on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Last to First – He’s Seriously Hot!
Sent to the paddock after just one placing from five starts at two that included three attempts in stakes company, Siriusly Hot returned a gelding at Randwick and it certainly made a difference!
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes at Sandown
Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
Melbourne Cup Possible for G2 Curragh Cup Quinella
The Group II Comer Group International Curragh Cup (1m6f) was run overnight in Ireland with a Galileo quinella for Aidan O’Brien and both Tower of London and Grosvenor Square are somewhere in the mix for the Melbourne Cup having soundly beaten Vauban, who was favourite at Flemington last year.
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.