JOCKEY FRANKIE DETTORI chose correctly, riding Colour Vision to victory in the Ascot Gold Cup on today.
Dettori hopped off Godolphin’s more established stayer Opinion Poll and the grey proved the jockey right in passing the post half a length ahead of his rival.
The grey, trained by Saeed Bin Surror, and Dettori had to survive an anxious wait as stewards checked the finish of the two and a half mile Group One race. The pair twice bumped into each other in the straight as they jostled for the line ahead of third-placed Saddler’s Rock.
Having heard the jockeys’ explanations, the stewards announced the official result, leaving the places unaltered. Odds-on favourite Fame and Glory, who landed the Gold Cup by three lengths 12 months ago, finished back in the field, denying trainer Aidan O’Brien his sixth success in the race in the last seven years.
Dettori was relieved after the decision.
“That was my best chance of the week,” he told BBC Sport. ”It was a very hard decision to make between Colour Vision and Opinion Poll – both are great horses, great warriors.
“But I’ve finished the best, though only by a short margin. I’m delighted for the team and myself – it’s been a hard week.”
