Crowd roars as Queen's stayer wins Ascot Gold Cup

Estimate raised the roof at Royal Ascot by providing the Queen with victory in the Gold Cup overnight...

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, the four-year-old filly become the first horse owned by a reigning monarch to win the two-and-a-half-mile showpiece. The 7-2 favourite was challenged strongly inside the final furlong by Simenon and French raider Top Trip, but she stuck her neck out gamely for a famous success.

Estimate won at the meeting last year in the Queen's Vase, returning to action this season with victory in the Sagaro Stakes, after which she was promoted towards the head of the Gold Cup market.

Despite the bookmakers fancying her chances, Stoute had always urged caution, suggesting her form did not entitle her to be favourite and that her position in the betting owed more to who owned her rather than her actual chance.

In the perfect position throughout, Moore tracked last year's winner Colour Vision into the straight before striking for home. Simenon, twice a winner at last year's fixture, looked to be coming with a race-winning run under Johnny Murtagh for Willie Mullins but could never quite draw level with Estimate, while Top Trip tried to force his way between them. Showing incredible guts and determination, Estimate won by a neck.

Moore said: "We've always had this race in mind, she won well. It's fantastic to ride a winner here for the Queen and in the Gold Cup, it's very special. She was holding them."

Stoute, who was winning the Gold Cup for the second time in its 207-year history, said: "It's a huge thrill as I wasn't confident. Her preparation had gone well and she was bred to have a big chance of getting the trip but she had to step up from the Sagaro to beat these boys. I was realistic - I try to be that.

"She had to work hard to get the grey horse of Godolphin and then she had a second battle with Willie Mullins' horse. Watching, it was tense and very long. She's so full of guts and so courageous, and she's very relaxed in her races. I think she'll have a good rest now, as that was a very hard race.

"It's a special thrill for the Queen. She said it gave her great pleasure and she thanked everyone involved. Racing is a big recreation for her, and with her breeding programme, it will have been a bigger thrill than if it were a colt."

Mullins, better known for his exploits in the National Hunt sphere, said: "He's run a career-best, which I said he might have to, and we're very pleased. It's probably a fantastic result for racing. I would have loved to have won and I'll probably never be in this position again - hopfully one day. We want to take our horse to the Melbourne Cup. I'll start making plans when I get home. It's going to make November a little busy."