By Brian Sheerin
A good day for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore at Royal Ascot became a whole lot better when Garden Of Eden (Saxon Warrior) ran out an authoritative winner of the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes – the middle leg of a memorable Thursday treble.
Stepping up to 1m4f for the first time, Garden Of Eden relished the red-hot pace that was set by stablemate Island Hopping (Wootton Bassett). When that rival predictably dropped away entering the straight, it developed into test of who stayed best, with O'Brien's runner overcoming any stamina doubts to pull over three lengths clear of 40-1 chance Understudy (Sea The Stars) in second. The Paddy Twomey-trained 2-1 favourite Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega) was a close-up third.
Winning rider Moore, who, like O'Brien, was completing a sixth success in the race, said, “She was very impressive. She's just been gradually improving. Aidan kept saying that when she steps up [in trip] she'll get better. We went a hard pace and we got a bit detached but she just dropped the bridle and just ran in snatches.”
He added on the 7-1 winner, “Billy [Lee, rider of Catalina Delcarpio] sneaked around the inside and when I asked her to quicken, she quickened very well. Just typical of Aidan – he just keeps making them better.”
The win makes O'Brien the most successful trainer in the history of the race, with Garden Of Eden following on from the impressive performance of Charles Darwin (No Nay Never) in the opening G2 Norfolk Stakes. The treble was completed by Trinity College (Dubawi) in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes.
O'Brien seemed to suggest a tilt at the Irish Oaks could be next for Garden Of Eden, and said, “I was impressed with that. I'm delighted. She's getting better which is great. We always thought stepping up in trip would help her and we stepped her up to a mile-and-a-quarter the last day and she improved a lot.”
He added, “She's by Saxon Warrior and when they go up in distance they do get better so she obviously improved for the step up. The Irish Oaks would be a possibility, but she could also go to America for a Grade 1 over there. We will have to see.”
Pedigree Notes
Garden Of Eden is out of Kodiac mare Komedy and was bred by Mark and Stephanie Hanly. She was sold initially at the Goffs November Foal Sale for €160,000 to Camas Park Stud, who re-offered her at the Book 1 session of the Goffs Orby Sale in 2023. She was knocked down to Peter and Ross Doyle for €200,000 on behalf of the Coolmore partners on that occasion. Komedy has already produced a black-type performer in the Richard Fahey-trained sprinter Internationaldream (Acclamation) while she is also responsible for the highly-rated four-time winner Daysofourlives. The family goes back to French Derby winner Natroun while Komedy herself is a half-sister to two 100-plus rated runners – dual Listed winner On Her Toes (Kodiac) and the Group 3-placed sprinter Jane's Memory (Caption Rio).
Thursday, Royal Ascot, Britain
RIBBLESDALE S.-G2, £250,000, Ascot, 6-19, 3yo, f, 11f 211yT, 2:28.91, g/f.
1–GARDEN OF EDEN (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Saxon Warrior (Jpn)
1st Dam: Komedy (Ire), by Kodiac (GB)
2nd Dam: Dancing Jest (Ire), by Averti (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mezzanine (GB), by Sadler's Wells
1ST GROUP WIN. (€160,000 Wlg '22 GOFNO1; €200,000 Ylg
'23 GOFOR). O-Mrs John Magnier, Mr M. Tabor & Mr D. Smith;
B-Mark Hanly & Stephanie Hanly (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan
- Moore. £141,775. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 9-3-1-0,
$264,782. *1/2 to Internationaldream (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}),
GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Understudy (GB), 128, f, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Sequester
(GB), by Selkirk. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Mr Be Nielsen; B-Bjorn Nielsen (GB); T-J & T Gosden.
£53,750.
3–Catalina Delcarpio (Ire), 128, f, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Queen
Guenevere (Ire), by Camelot (GB). (400,000gns Ylg '23
TATOCT). O-Robert J W Moran; B-Ballylinch Stud & Ecurie Des
Charmes (IRE); T-P Twomey. £26,900.
Margins: 3 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00.
Also Ran: Go Go Boots (GB), Life Is Beautiful (GB), Serenity Prayer (Ire), Lady Vivian (Ire), Ecstatic (Jpn), Hollys Graces (Ire), Island Hopping (Ire), Caspi Star (GB).
It's a double on the day for Ryan Moore,@Ballydoyle and @coolmorestud, as GARDEN OF EDEN crosses the line first in The Ribblesdale Stakes#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/uZixMpfbeg
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 19, 2025
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
