Estimate has already orchestrated the most popular moment of the 2013 Flat season and her jockey Ryan Moore is readying himself for the filly’s belated racecourse comeback at Ascot this weekend.
A first Gold Cup victory for The Queen prompted spontaneous scenes of joy across the vast Berkshire course, even within the Royal Box itself as Her Majesty became as elated as anyone could remember.
It was an achievement of which Moore, who taken many of the world’s best races in his stride, clearly has great pride.
“Riding a winner for The Queen at the Royal meeting is a big deal, it’s something I always wanted to do, and the fact it was the Gold Cup made it of extra special importance,” he said.
The British Champions Long Distance Cup represents a drop back two miles, but the daughter of Monsun has already registered two courses successes at that distance in last year’s Queen’s Vase and on her only other start this term in the Sagaro Stakes.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute withdrew Estimate from an intended start in the Lonsdale Cup at York’s Ebor meeting when he was not quite happy with her.
While reports on her current well-being have been positive, Moore’s main concern would be her acting on testing ground.
“The last meeting there it was soft ground, that was two weeks ago, it is still fairly wet and I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t soft all round on Saturday,” he said.
“She’s a bigger and stronger filly now, though. I don’t think it will be a problem, but you never know until they have been on it.”
Estimate was not bred by The Queen herself – she was a present from the Aga Khan – but she will join the Royal broodmare band in due course.
