Johnston savours Gold Cup win

Mark Johnston's Subjectivist produced an upset to claim the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday, beating odds-on favourite Stradivarius. 

Stradivarius, partnered by Frankie Dettori, had been bidding for a record-equalling fourth win in a row in the showpiece race but, after getting held up, could only muster fourth place, behind the Tony Mullins-trained duo of Princess Zoe and Spanish Mission. 

Subjectivist won the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March but trainer Johnston admitted he wasn't particularly confident on his charge's Ascot chances in the build-up to the race. 

"We were more hopeful than confident but we had a scare after his win in Dubai so he missed quite a lot of work and he fell on the road the other day," he said after the Gold Cup. 

"It was probably good that the rain stayed away and it stayed fast. 

"It's a sad day for Stradivarius — a winning run has to come to an end at some time and I'm glad we did it." 

Redemption for Mohaafeth

Mohaafeth was being talked about as a genuine Derby contender at Epsom but ultimately trainer William Haggas decided not to run the son of Frankel in that race due to concerns over the ground. 

Haggas instead sent Mohaafeth to the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday and the move paid off as the three-year-old claimed a fourth straight win. 

The Coral Eclipse at Sandown looks like the next target for Mohaafeth and Haggas says he still has to do more to prove he's a "really good horse", although he is confident he will always be "dangerous" over quick ground. 

Tregoning ends Royal Ascot hoodoo

Trainer Marcus Tregoning registered a first Royal Ascot success since way back in 2003 as Perotto landed the Britannia Stakes. 

Tregoning's last win at the meeting came in the King Edward VII Stakes with High Accolade but Perotto ended that drought with Oisin Murphy on board, with Liffey River second and Quintillus third. 

Murphy heaped the praise on Tregoning after the win, and indicated he would be happy to work with the trainer more often moving forward. 

"I don't team up with Marcus very much, but he's a top trainer with a small string and an absolute gentleman," he said. 

"This horse was very well prepared today, he gave me a super ride, I'm thrilled, these races are hard to win. 

"He stuck his head out, I wasn't sure about a mile and I rode him very cold. "I wasn't given any instructions, but I'm glad it worked out."

Career best for Hanagan in Perfect opener

There was an emotional success in the first race on the day three card when Perfect Power was given the nod in a thrilling finish in the Norfolk Stakes. 

Richard Fahey's charge ultimately finished a head clear of Go Bears Go with Project Dante a nose further back in third, and former champion jockey Paul Hanagan couldn't hide his emotions after suffering an almost career-ending injury last year. 

He said: "I think this tops the lot. The accident I had last year was a pretty bad one and I just thought I'm lucky to be here at all, never mind riding winners. 

"I think early on when I was laid in hospital, I thought I was in trouble. It was only through the rehab and genuine kindness of people that I've got back. You just appreciate it when you get a second chance. 

"This would be my main (achievement) now because I didn't think I would get back at all. It was a bad one — I fractured my T4, T3 and T6 (vertebrae), and the T6 was crushed all together. 

"So after operations and physio of countless days, being in a few bad places a few times, to make it back and ride a winner here — it would top the whole lot."