Yorkshire Cup Triumph for Rahiebb

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Gr.1 St Leger runner-up, Frankel colt Rahiebb, booked his ticket to next month's Gr.1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with a belated first blacktype victory in the Gr.2 Yorkshire Cup on the Knavesmire on Friday (15th May).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 16th May 2026, by Sean Cronin:

The 4-1 chance was positioned in third as Gr.1 Irish St Leger second Amiloc bowled along on the front end, but slipped to fourth approaching halfway. Coming under pressure with three furlongs remaining, he swooped for control soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and, despite edging left in the latter stages, was driven out to secure a decisive two and a quarter-length triumph from Al Nayyir. Meydan regular Epic Poet was a neck back in third, while the pacesetting Amiloc faded quicky once headed and finished a disappointing sixth of seven

"That was lovely to watch, it was very smooth and he's a lovely horse," said Roger Varian. "He had a long year and was learning on the job all season really. He made his debut at Newcastle in February and finished up in the St Leger. He was such a baby last year and was doing a lot of things wrong, but still running well. He's really matured over the winter and you don't have to know anything about horses to know he's a magnificent specimen. Hopefully his best days are still in front of him."

Looking ahead, the trainer added: "We think he's a Cup horse for the Cup races, not just [Royal] Ascot, but of course we have to think of him as a [Gr.1] Gold Cup candidate. It's a tough division. but a fun one to be involved in."