Tag Archive for: White Birch

Connections of White Birch elect to play it safe and swerve Eclipse

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White Birch will be a notable absentee from a stellar Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday on account of anticipated fast conditions.

John Joseph Murphy’s star performer was one of 11 confirmed for the Esher track’s summer highlight on Monday, but connections have now decided not to make the trip from Ireland while the weather refuses to break.

“White Birch is not going to run, it’s looking like they will have proper good to firm ground at Sandown,” said George Murphy, who is assistant to his father.

“We made the decision good ground would be the quickest we would run him on, so it’s not ideal for Saturday.”

White Birch made a pleasing start to the season by finishing second to Los Angeles in the Mooresbridge Stakes before an unlucky fourth to the same rival when defending his Tattersalls Gold Cup crown.

However, he also missed Royal Ascot for the second year running when quick conditions ruled him out of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, connections are now minded to hit the pause button ahead of a late-season campaign on more suitable going.

Murphy added: “We’ll chat to the owners but it is more than likely we will give him an easy time now and wait for the end of the summer/start of autumn when we’re more likely to get a little ease in the ground.

“It’s been pretty quick for a while now, but he’s in good shape and we just want to look after him.”

Prince of Wales’s Stakes an option for White Birch

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The Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot could be “high on the agenda” for White Birch after he narrowly failed to defend his Tattersalls Gold Cup crown at the Curragh on Sunday.

Having fought out a thriller with Los Angeles when beaten a neck on his return to action earlier this month, John Joseph Murphy’s five-year-old had to settle for fourth behind Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner this time around after a less than smooth passage through the high-class Group One event.

Beaten under two lengths, many deemed the son of Ulysees an unlucky loser, with connections happy with both White Birch’s performance and well-being in the aftermath.

“He’s come out of the race very well and was fresh yesterday morning, we’re very pleased with how he is,” said George Murphy, assistant to his father.

“He ran a super race and things didn’t just work out on the day, but that happens sometimes. We were pleased with how he turned up and performed.”

White Birch had thrived in the early part of 2024 before injury kept him on the sidelines for the remainder of the year and having started the new campaign in a similar vein, connections could be tempted to head to Royal Ascot for an opportunity he was denied 12 months ago.

White Birch (grey) has twice finished second to Los Angeles this season
White Birch (grey) has twice finished second to Los Angeles this season (Niall Carson/PA)

Murphy added: “I’d imagine we’ll head to Royal Ascot now, we’ll chat to the owners throughout the week and make a bit of a plan, but I would imagine the Prince of Wales’s Stakes would be high on the agenda now.

“But there are plenty of options and he could maybe go straight for the Coral-Eclipse or something like that, so we won’t make any definitive plan today and leave things fluid for the moment.”

Keane backing White Birch for Tattersalls Gold Cup defence

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Colin Keane will be gunning for a second Curragh Group One success of the weekend in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, when his old ally White Birch defends the trophy they claimed so impressively together 12 months ago.

On that occasion, John Joseph Murphy’s popular grey ran out an emphatic victor over Auguste Rodin and another Aidan O’Brien-trained Classic winner in Los Angeles is rated his biggest rival this time.

White Birch was having his first outing since that triumph when edged out by last year’s Irish Derby hero here in the Mooresbridge Stakes recently and their quick rematch promises to be just as thrilling.

Keane, who enjoyed an easy success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Field Of Gold, told Tattersalls: “White Birch had a very good first run back having been off the track for nearly a year and you’d like to think he would have improved from the run by all accounts.

“He has come out of the race very happy, and everyone is looking forward to having him out again.

“He loves the Curragh and although it’s one of the strongest renewals of the race, he’s coming there in good nick and any rain that falls will help him.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on him.”

Leading the British hopes is Andrew Balding’s Kalpana, winner of the Group One Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot on her final start last term and the current ante-post favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

She was an intended runner in the Middleton Stakes at York for her return to action, but an unsatisfactory scope put paid to that plan and she has been rerouted to the Curragh instead having shaken off that ailment.

“She’s all good, York was obviously Plan A and this is Plan B,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager to owner and breeder Juddmonte.

“It’s probably as deep a Tattersalls Gold Cup as I can remember, it’s a very, very strong renewal with multiple top-class horses in there.

“We’re hopeful of a good run, it’s her first run back this year and it’s over 10 furlongs, which is probably short enough for her.

“I think we’ll learn a bit more about her and it’ll set her up nicely for a nice campaign as a four-year-old.”

Owen Burrows’ Anmaat is another British-trained challenger and he too makes his seasonal debut having signed off last term with a Group One success in the Champion Stakes on the same Ascot card.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owners Shadwell, said: “It will be great to see him in action again, they’ve done a great job with him at home.

“He’s an elder statesman now and he did very well for himself over the winter and they’ve done very well to get that off him.

“To be fair to the horse, he’s such a star, he loves his job and he still seems as enthusiastic as ever.

“He’s bound to need the run, but equally he’s as well as he can be at home. He’s as fit as he can be without a run.

“We’ve had a bit of rain in Ireland, good ground would be perfect for him and hopefully he’ll go there with a very good chance.

“It looks a red-hot race and I think that’s a consequence of the ground being so fast everywhere else.”

Clive Cox runs Ghostwriter and Karl Burke has entered Prix Ganay third Royal Rhyme to complete the British contingent.

Continuous is the Ballydoyle second string, while Paddy Twomey’s Deepone and Adrian Murray’s Crypto Force also boost the home side’s chances.

Top-class Tattersalls Gold Cup in prospect at the Curragh

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Los Angeles and White Birch are due to lock horns for the second time this season in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

The pair met earlier this month in the Mooresbridge Stakes when Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner came out on top by a neck.

White Birch, trained by John Murphy, beat former Ballydoyle inmate Auguste Rodin in the corresponding race last season but a setback prevented him from running again.

“It’s the plan to run Los Angeles,” O’Brien told Racing TV.

“Everything has gone well since his last run at the Curragh and it was always the plan to come back for this.

“Everything has been good so far with him.”

In what could turn out to be a cracking renewal, Andrew Balding’s Kalpana, among the favourites for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is due to make her seasonal return.

She was last seen at Ascot on Champions Day winning the Fillies & Mares Stakes in style but missed her intended comeback at York last week.

Another Champions Day winner was Owen Burrows’ Anmaat, in the Champion Stakes, and he is also set to make his return this weekend.

Almaqam, Al Riffa, Ghostwriter and Royal Rhyme add further strength in depth to a race with 12 confirmations.

Tattersalls Gold Cup on the agenda again for White Birch

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White Birch is firmly on course to defend his Tattersalls Gold Cup crown on Saturday week, having come through his pleasing Curragh comeback with flying colours.

John Joseph Murphy’s stable star enjoyed a fantastic spring campaign last year, winning the Alleged Stakes and the Mooresbridge Stakes at the home of Irish Flat racing before completing his hat-trick with a dominant Tattersalls Gold Cup success over the top-class Auguste Rodin.

Following almost a year off the track, White Birch made his long-awaited return in the Mooresbridge earlier this month and connections could not have been more delighted with his performance in defeat as the grey pushed last year’s Irish Derby winner and Arc third Los Angeles to a neck.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “It was a great run and we couldn’t be happier with him.

“He had a long time off the track and you’d be hoping he’ll improve for the run. He’s been in super form all spring, of course you’re a bit nervous when they’ve been off that long but he showed himself very well and we’re delighted with him.

“He seems to have come out of it well and we’re looking forward to getting him out again.”

Assistant trainer George Murphy is looking forward to Group One targets with White Birch
Assistant trainer George Murphy is looking forward to Group One targets with White Birch (Niall Carson/PA)

Aidan O’Brien nominated the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot as likely targets for Los Angeles in the aftermath of his recent success and there appears to be every chance White Birch will take him on in both races.

“He’s in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but I’d imagine we’ll go for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and go to Ascot after that – that would be the way it’s looking at the moment,” Murphy added.

“He (Los Angeles) is a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll be tough to beat again, but we’ll look forward to it.”

White Birch on course to defend Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh

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White Birch has defending his Tattersalls Gold Cup crown as the primary objective for the start of the new Flat turf season.

The Curragh Group One, which John Joseph Murphy’s stable star impressed in when downing Auguste Rodin 12 months ago, will be the centrepiece of White Birch’s early-season plans as the five-year-old seeks to make up for time lost last season.

“He’s wintered very well and looks superb and we couldn’t be happier with how he’s training,” said George Murphy, assistant to his father.

“We’ll more than likely start off at the Curragh, we’ll probably skip the Group Three (Alleged Stakes, April 12) and head to the Mooresbridge (Stakes, Curragh, May 5) and then we’ll go on to the Tattersalls Gold Cup (May 25), that I think will be the plan.

“Hopefully he gets there in one piece, but he’s in good shape at the moment anyway.”

White Birch started 2024 in imperious form, winning his first three starts before a setback curtailed his progress, missing an intended assignment at Royal Ascot and also having to sit out the Eclipse and Juddmonte International before connections eventually called time on his season in early September.

However, the grey is back in full training with his team fully confident he is firmly over any issues and now eyeing further Group One riches with the high-class son of Ulysses.

White Birch started last season in fine form
White Birch started last season in fine form (Healy Racing/PA)

“He’s got no issues at all, thank God, and we’re very pleased with how he is,” continued Murphy.

“I think we’ll probably follow the 10-furlong Pattern and he’s a Group One winner at that distance. But I wouldn’t see why we wouldn’t explore a mile and a half also – he’s got plenty of options so we’ll aim at the Tattersalls Gold Cup, regroup and then make a further plan with the owners.”

Setback brings early end to White Birch campaign

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White Birch has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a setback.

John Joseph Murphy’s stable star enjoyed a fantastic start to his four-year-old campaign, landing the Group Three Alleged Stakes and the Group Two Mooresbridge Stakes before claiming Group One glory with a comprehensive defeat of Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

The grey has not been seen in competitive action since that late May success, missing a planned rematch with Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot due to unsatisfactory blood test results and also sidestepping the Eclipse at Sandown and York’s Juddmonte International.

Connections had been targeting a return to action in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday week, but he will now sit out the remainder of 2024.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “He’s just strained his near hock and he has to have box rest for three to four weeks, so unfortunately that will rule him out.

“It’s just bad timing and it’s unfortunate, but we’re looking forward to him next year.”

All-star cast poised to take on City Of Troy at York next week

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City Of Troy is among of bumper field of 16 confirmations for what looks like being the race of the season in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.

Aidan O’Brien’s Derby and Eclipse winner will face his toughest test to date against some new rivals from the Classic generation and a high-class field of older horses. O’Brien has also left in Continuous, Hans Andersen and Los Angeles.

There is a strong challenge from France in Calandagan, who was so impressive at Royal Ascot for Francis-Henri Graffard, and the Jerome Reynier-trained Zarakem, runner-up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Durezza, the Japanese St Leger winner, will attempt to avenge Zenno Rob Roy’s narrow defeat in 2005.

Top filly Bluestocking is still a possible for the sponsors, while Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly looks sure to be suited by the drop in trip for James Fanshawe.

Owen Burrows’ Alflaila has won three Group races already at York and rates a danger, as does Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter, not far behind City Of Troy in the Eclipse.

Top-quality horses such as Maljoom, Israr, Docklands and Royal Rhyme are available at big prices, indicating just how strong the contest is shaping up to be.

And further strength could be added by White Birch, who faces a key gallop on Friday which will determine whether or not he lines up.

The four-year-old has not been seen since lowering the colours of Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May. He was a late absentee from the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot due to an unsatisfactory blood test result and also missed the Eclipse having failed to fully recover.

“He’s in very good form. He’s due to have a piece of work tomorrow, Colin Keane will ride him and we’ll have a chat with the owners after that and make a decision whether he goes to York or whether he goes straight to the Irish Champion Stakes,” said George Murphy, assistant trainer to his father, John, on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.

White Birch left Auguste Rodin toiling at the Curragh
White Birch left Auguste Rodin toiling at the Curragh (Healy Racing)

“Tomorrow or the next day we’ll know what way we are going.

“There are a few other races we are thinking about so it’s a final decision on what way we map out his summer and autumn campaign. He’s in super form, he had a little bit of a break and seems to have done very well so fingers crossed all goes well over the next few days.

“He had three races very close to one another, so it was probably no harm (having a break). You can’t keep going all year and there are some exciting races towards the end of the year we are very focussed on.

“The Arc is definitely still an option and it’s fairly high up on the list, but there’s the Irish Champion Stakes, the Arc and the English Champion Stakes as well so there’s plenty of options.

“We’ll know a little bit more in the coming few days. He’s in good shape and whatever will be will be.”

City Of Troy hardens as Eclipse favourite after White Birch KO

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City Of Troy is now the 2-5 favourite with the sponsor for Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse after leading rival White Birch was ruled out.

The Derby hero was already the 1-2 market leader on the back of his Epsom victory, but his odds were further trimmed after it was reported Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch will not travel to Sandown, as connections were not entirely satisfied with the results of a blood test on Wednesday.

White Birch’s defection has left Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini and the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter now joint second-favourites at 7-1.

“It’s obviously disappointing for all concerned that White Birch will not be lining up in Saturday’s big race, and he would have been the chief market rival to City Of Troy, but in his absence, the Derby winner is now 2-5 favourite to complete the big-race double,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

In White Birch’s absence, connections of Dancing Gemini are relishing the chance to take over the mantle of City Of Troy’s biggest danger, as they attempt to reverse Epsom form with the Derby victor.

The colt’s trainer has the utmost respect for the challenge Aidan O’Brien’s son of Justify presents, but is optimistic he can close the eight-and-a-quarter-length gap that separated Dancing Gemini and the winner on the Surrey Downs.

“It’s quite sad news for connections (of White Birch), maybe not so sad for us, but he will be a big loss to the race, that’s for sure,” said Teal on a media call arranged by the Jockey Club.

“City Of Troy is a very good horse and Aidan has been very confident and bullish about him. Even after the Guineas run, he knew that was an off day.

“We’ve got to respect him but we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and do what we do – and if we can get anywhere near him, then we would have run a blinder.

“We had a wide trip in the Derby and were further back than we wanted to be. Ryan (Moore) went down the inner and Dylan (Browne McMonagle) went on the outer, so City Of Troy gained many lengths on us there. If we are a lot closer to him, I can see him shortening the distance for sure.

“The horse is fit and well and we’ve just got to let the horse do what he can do.

“I think the whole team does a great job and we seem to find a good one each year or every other year. For a yard of our size, it is brilliant and we’ve been to some big occasions – and I don’t think we’ve ever disgraced ourselves.”

Eclipse decision on White Birch to be made on Wednesday

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A final decision on White Birch’s Coral-Eclipse participation will be made on Wednesday, with connections hopeful their leading light can take his place in an all-star showdown with City Of Troy at Sandown.

Third in the Derby last year, a cautious approach from his training team has paid dividends this season as the son of Ulysses has recorded three notable victories in the first half of the campaign.

White Birch got the better of Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin in the most recent of those triumphs, securing a first Group One and the biggest success of John Joseph Murphy’s training career since Newmill won the Champion Chase in 2006.

Derby winner City Of Troy lies in wait for White Birch at Sandown on Saturday
Derby winner City Of Troy lies in wait for White Birch at Sandown on Saturday (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Auguste Rodin roared back to form in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race White Birch had to miss on account of some unsatisfactory blood results.

The colt will now conclude his preparations for the 10-furlong event in midweek when connections hope to give the trip to Esher the go-ahead.

“The plan is to go to Sandown and he will have a breeze tomorrow (Wednesday) and he will have his blood done in the morning again, with a decision made after midday,” said the trainer’s son and assistant, George.

“Hopefully we will be able to go and we’re really looking forward to it.”

At Sandown, White Birch would have to concede 10lb to Epsom hero City Of Troy as well as the other three-year-olds in the mix, which include Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter, Roger Teal’s French 2000 Guineas runner-up Dancing Gemini and Brian Meehan’s Royal Ascot scorer Jayarebe.

City Of Troy and White Birch feature in Eclipse confirmations

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City Of Troy and White Birch look to be on course for a mouthwatering clash of the generations at Sandown on Saturday after the pair featured among 11 confirmations for the Coral-Eclipse.

Having put 2000 Guineas disappointment behind him with an imperious display in the Derby, City Of Troy will be a warm order to provide Aidan O’Brien with an eighth Eclipse success. The Ballydoyle handler has also left in Continuous, Hans Anderson and last month’s Coronation Cup hero Luxembourg.

City Of Troy will be meeting his elders for the first time and his biggest threat appears to be the four-year-old White Birch, who is three from three this season for John Joseph Murphy.

White Birch pulls clear of Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup
White Birch pulls clear of Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Healy Racing/PA)

The grey was last seen claiming the notable scalp of City Of Troy’s esteemed stablemate and subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. White Birch was also under consideration for Royal Ascot before an unsatisfactory blood test scuppered his participation.

Roget Teal’s Dancing Gemini could renew rivalry with City Of Troy after finishing sixth in the Derby, while the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter has also proven himself a high-class three-year-old by finishing fourth in both the 2000 Guineas and the French Derby.

Brian Meehan’s Hampton Court victor Jayarebe and Andrew Balding’s filly See The Fire are the other two potential runners from the Classic generation, with Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa and Stay Alert from Hughie Morrison’s yard completing the acceptors.

Eclipse possibility for Royal Ascot absentee White Birch

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White Birch could be headed for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and a clash with City Of Troy after a setback saw him withdrawn from the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old John Joseph Murphy-trained grey was all set for a mouthwatering rematch with Auguste Rodin on Wednesday before connections were forced to skip the big meeting and look elsewhere.

The son of Ulysses, third behind Auguste Rodin in last year’s Derby, beat Aidan O’Brien’s charge by three lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh for his first success at Group One level.

But now a trip to Sandown on July 6 is potentially on the cards, with another option being a step up in trip to a mile and a half for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 30.

George Murphy, son of the trainer, told the PA news agency: “We had a blood result come back yesterday and it wasn’t perfect so we said we’d leave the trip.

“We’ll have to have a chat with the owners now before we decide where to go.

“He’s in the Eclipse and he’s in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the end of the month, so it’s probably one of the two of those.

“The ground (at Royal Ascot) wasn’t a concern for us.”

White Birch absent from Prince of Wales’s rematch with Auguste Rodin

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The rematch between Auguste Rodin and White Birch in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is off, with John Murphy’s grey a notable absentee from a final field of nine for Wednesday’s Royal Ascot feature.

Having met in the Tattersalls Gold Cup recently, where White Birch came out on top, the pair meeting again would have been one of the highlights of the week, but that will now have to be another day.

For Auguste Rodin, last year’s dual Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, it was a first defeat when he has not totally run below form, but Aidan O’Brien is expecting him to improve for the run. O’Brien is also represented by Hans Andersen.

There are four runners trained in France – Blue Rose Cen and Snobbish, both trained by Maurizio Guarnieri, Zarakem for Jerome Reynier and Patrice Cottier’s Horizon Dore.

The UK challenge is led by John and Thady Gosden’s Inspiral and is supplemented by the Owen Burrows-trained Alflaila and Karl Burke’s Royal Rhyme.

A big field of 26 will go to post for the Queen Mary, with the unbeaten Enchanting Empress making her first start for Raphael Freire having won three for Dominic French Davis.

Make Haste has impressed to date for Diego Dias and is sure to have her supporters, while Ryan Moore is on O’Brien’s Truly Enchanting. Leovanni and Wesley Ward’s Ultima Grace are others to note.

Last year’s winner Rogue Millennium is back again in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes but this time represents Joseph O’Brien rather than Tom Clover.

Stablemate Gregarina, Willie McCreery’s Ocean Jewel and Adrian Murray’s Magical Sunset give Ireland a strong hand, with Christopher Head’s Sea The Lady also declared against Laurel for the Gosdens.

Aidan O’Brien has four of the 12 declared in the Queen’s Vase in Grosvenor Square, Highbury, Illinois and The Equator, while Jessica Harrington’s Birdman is another well-fancied runner.

A maximum 30 will go to post for the Royal Hunt Cup with top-weight Sonny Liston aiming to go one better than last year.

There are 25 in the Kensington Palace Stakes with the weights headed by the Harrington-trained Villanova Queen, while in the closing Windsor Palace Stakes a maximum field of 28 juveniles, including Richard Fahey’s Shadow Army, will come hurtling down Ascot’s straight five furlongs.

White Birch and Auguste Rodin set to renew rivalry

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White Birch and Auguste Rodin are on course to meet again in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

Last season’s dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin had the edge in those Classic contests, but currently has ground to make up on John Joseph Murphy’s grey, who has won all three of his races this term.

Nevertheless, the bookmakers have Aidan O’Brien’s runner as their favourite, expecting him to come forward from the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

French challengers Horizon Dore, Zarakem and Blue Rose Cen are set for action, while Inspiral – who is likely to run in the Queen Anne on the opening day – Alflaila and 2020 winner Lord North are also among 13 confirmations.

James Tate’s Royal Dress, a luckless third at Epsom in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, has been supplemented for the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes. The winner of that race, John and Sean Quinn’s Breege, features in the 19 possibles, too.

Surprisingly, there is no Aidan O’Brien representative, but his son Joseph can choose from Goldana, Gregarina and Rogue Millennium, last year’s winner when with Tom Clover.

John and Thady Gosden’s Laurel and Willie McCreery’s Ocean Jewel are other major contenders.

A big field looks assured in the Queen Mary, with 36 youngsters entered, including Wesley Ward’s Burning Pine and Saturday Flirt, Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother and Andrew Balding’s Kassaya, a half-sister to Guineas winner Chaldean.

Wesley Ward (right) is back for more Ascot glory
Wesley Ward (right) is back for more Ascot glory (John Walton/PA)

There are 17 in the Queen’s Vase, with Aidan O’Brien responsible for seven, including the promising Highbury, who won by seven and a half lengths last time out.

Balding’s Derby fifth Sayedaty Sadaty and Roger Varian’s Defiance are others of note.

A total of 66 remain in the Royal Hunt Cup, with the weights headed by last year’s runner-up Sonny Liston.

Ouzo, Holloway Boy, Notre Belle Bete and Beshtani are others towards the top.

White Birch floors Auguste Rodin for Tattersalls gold at the Curragh

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White Birch continued his brilliant start to the season by claiming a first Group One victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Third behind the reopposing Auguste Rodin in the Derby last year, John Joseph Murphy’s grey made a successful start to his four-year-old campaign in the Group Three Alleged Stakes in April before following up over the same course and distance at Group Two level in the Mooresbridge three weeks ago.

Dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin was the marginal favourite at 11-10 as he looked to bounce back from a disappointing run in Dubai, but while he moved menacingly into it in the straight, White Birch (15-8) was going even better in his slipstream in the hands of a motionless Colin Keane.

Once asked to extend, the grey showed smart acceleration to put three lengths between himself and Auguste Rodin, with Crypto Force a further eight lengths behind in third.

“That couldn’t have gone better. We got behind the two we wanted to be behind (early),” said Keane.

“Ryan (Moore, on Auguste Rodin) brought us as far as we could, then we just quickened up well.

“He cantered into it. He has plenty of pace but would have no bother going a bit further.

“He has matured massively from three to four.”

White Birch and Colin Keane with connections after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup
White Birch and Colin Keane with connections after winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Healy Racing/PA)

Paddy Power cut White Birch to 7-1 from 25-1 for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, while he is 8-1 from 20-1 for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “We’ve been waiting a long time for one as good as him. He’s a bit more chilled out this year and has progressed from race to race.

“People thought last year when he was a bit slow away from the gates a few times and he was coming from off the pace that he was more of a stayer, but he’s getting to show what he can do now.

“He’s got form on very quick ground as well, so he seems to handle them all. Colin was very good on him, as he always is, and gave him a super ride. He’s a master of his trade.

“We’ll enjoy today and make a plan from here.”

Aidan O’Brien, meanwhile, took plenty of positives from the run of Auguste Rodin and was also quick to praise winning connections.

“I thought he ran very well. The ground went against him and he got into a little bit of a speed wobble coming down off the hill and it took a little bit of time to get back in his rhythm. Obviously John’s horse picked him up well, but we were very happy,” he said.

“He still went out on his shield today and the next time we’ll be ready. We were thinking of the Prince of Wales’s next, but we’ll see what the lads want to do.

“I’m delighted for John and his son George.”