Moore salutes O’Brien’s ‘unbelievable’ new staying king

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Ryan Moore praised Scandinavia after the Aidan O’Brien-trained horse won the Goodwood Cup by eight-and-a-half lengths despite interference affecting key rival Trawlerman mid-race. This dominant victory solidifies Scandinavia’s position as a leading stayer and highlights his potential for continued success in major staying events.

Ryan Moore described Scandinavia as an “unbelievable stayer” after the Aidan O’Brien-trained horse delivered a commanding victory in the Goodwood Cup on Wednesday, securing a notable double following a Group One success at Royal Ascot last month.

Scandinavia, the 6-5 favourite, retained his title at Goodwood by an impressive eight-and-a-half lengths, overcoming a significant mid-race incident that affected his key rival, Trawlerman. The race was disrupted early on when Amiloc, ridden by Hector Crouch, lost his jockey exiting the stalls. The riderless horse then interfered with Trawlerman, who was priced at 13-8 and positioned well in contention at the time. The interference reportedly slowed Trawlerman’s momentum, which was crucial during the decisive stages of the race.

Despite the disruption, Scandinavia demonstrated his stamina and class to pull away decisively. He had previously edged out Trawlerman by a head to claim the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, a race over two-and-a-half miles that was Scandinavia’s first attempt at that distance. Moore noted that the horse showed great adaptability and strength as he secured victory in both prestigious staying events.

Moore compared Scandinavia favorably with another of O’Brien’s leading stayers, Kyprios, who won 17 of 21 starts, including two Gold Cups. “I couldn’t say he is better than Kyprios as that horse had a nearly perfect record over staying trips, but Scandinavia now has shown he is in that elite company,” Moore said.

Following the interference incident, Goodwood stewards classified Amiloc as a runner, while William Buick, jockey on Trawlerman, acknowledged the impact it had on his horse's chances. “It definitely had an effect. The winner won well, but when you get hampered at that stage of the race it’s never ideal,” Buick said.

Scandinavia’s commanding performance at Goodwood confirmed his status as one of the top stayers in the British flat-racing scene, maintaining the strong streak of success for O’Brien and marking him as a major contender in future staying races.

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