Princess Zoe Takes Sagaro Stakes at Ascot Racecourse

Punchestown may have staged what promised to be an epic, but there was only one Gold Cup (G1) on Tony Mullins' mind after Princess Zoe  warmed up for Royal Ascot with a gutsy win in the Longines Sagaro Stakes (G3).

Calling her the star of Mullins' County Kilkenny stable would be a disservice as she occupies a much more cherished place in his heart, and the enduring love affair between trainer and horse would be sealed for eternity should she triumph in the prestigious flat marathon.

She is 14-1 (from 20) with Coral to better her five-length second in the race last year—odds part-owner Patrick Kehoe described as too big.

Interestingly, Paddy Power and Betfair are only 6-1 about the 7-year-old, who gave Mullins and jockey Joey Sheridan a day to remember in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1) at Longchamp in 2020.

They are unlikely to forget the Longines-backed Sagaro in a hurry either as a lengthy stewards' inquiry followed her narrow victory from Quickthorn  and Enemy .

Mullins drew on just one cigarette before the result was confirmed and said: "I'll never have the like of her again. You have no idea what it means to get one like her when you have trained ordinary horses for 25-30 years. She's part of the family now.

"I believe we'll improve for the Gold Cup and we can build up to that, which has been the plan since her second last year."

The former jockey, who hails from the mighty Mullins racing family, eats, sleeps, and breathes Princess Zoe.

"I couldn't speak after she got beat in the Cadran in October," he added. "I thought she was a certainty, but just told myself to get it out of my mind and build her up for the Gold Cup.

"Nothing comes close to her. I've never had a horse like her and never will again. I hope I do and we've often had good horses who have got injured or had other problems, but she's like having your mother beside you. She's dead reliable and turns up every time."

Mullins, blessed with a lifetime in the game, was associated with legendary mare Dawn Run during his riding career, so knows a special horse, and the 20-year-old Sheridan has developed similar feelings for the daughter of Jukebox Jury .

"She gave me one of the best days of my life winning a group 1 when I was only 18," he said. "To be riding an Ascot winner in a Gold Cup trial is the stuff of dreams and I can't thank the owners for being so loyal and sticking by me.

"She loves it around here and the extra distance will suit her better in the Gold Cup."

Gold Cup favorite Trueshan  is the one to beat, according to Sheridan and Mullins, who said: "Everyone says she's a heavy-ground mare. If she was beaten today on good to firm, they'd all say I was wrong and made a big mistake, so there was massive pressure."

Mullins just might be relishing it, however.