ASCOT, United Kingdom (AFP) — Aidan O’Brien became the first trainer to have 100 Royal Ascot winners. And, appropriately, he achieved the landmark in the meeting’s most historic race, the Gold Cup, with Scandinavia winning a thriller on Thursday.

The 56-year-old Irishman also claimed a record-extending 10th Gold Cup as his winner just got the better of last year’s champion Trawlerman in an epic duel.

O’Brien’s first winner came in 1997 with Harbour Master, and just as he was then he was equally modest, reeling off a whole host of the Ballydoyle Stables employees.

His century was marked with a saddlecloth imprinted with 100 on it, presented to him by King Charles III.

“It is incredible, really,” said O’Brien, who kissed his wife Anne-Marie after
Scandinavia had crossed the finishing line.

“I wouldn’t dream or think about it [the century. I’m taking it] just one race at a time.

“I don’t even think of what could be as it is so hard to win races here.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be involved with the team, to be a small part of it. The reality is that lots of people do the work.”

Winning jockey Ryan Moore, who claimed his fifth Gold Cup, said O’Brien was a master at “preparing the horse to be jumping out of their skins” when it came to Royal Ascot.

As for how O’Brien might celebrate the feat, Moore remarked laconically: “Knowing Aidan he will be looking towards the next 100.

“That is what separates him.”

O’Brien has had the benefit of training largely in an era when Ascot moved from a four-day meeting to five, which took place in 2002.

Nevertheless MV Magnier — a key figure at Coolmore Stud who O’Brien trains for — said it had been a perfect day.

“It is incredible. For Aidan to get 100 winners here and win the Gold Cup — you have The King and Queen here — it is a very big deal,” said Magnier whose father, John, was responsible for picking O’Brien to be Coolmore’s trainer in 1996.

Trawlerman’s performance was remarkable, given a serious eye affliction — as a result he wore ski goggles before the race — had cast his career in doubt.

Jockey Ryan Moore on Scandinavia, smiles after winning the Gold Cup race on the third day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting in Ascot, west of London, on June 18, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

“Having been sick, having looked like he would never, ever race again, it’s quite extraordinary,” said his co-trainer John Gosden.

“He was in agony at Easter.

“It was the eye trouble. He was in some pain with it but these goggles have helped, and the vets have done a brilliant job.”

Gosden swallowed his disappointment and revelled in one of the great all-time races at the meeting. O’Brien too had marvelled at the noise from the packed stands as it “got louder and louder”.

“A phenomenal race. This is what racing needs, and it’s great for the crowd,” said Gosden.

– ‘Dreamed’ –

If O’Brien believes in omens then he would have been in a dark place after the first race of the day.

His Chesham Stakes favourite Aix La Chapelle reared up in the stalls and Moore was lucky to escape serious injury as he managed to jump off.

Whilst he sat out the race another Irish runner, Nola Soul, stormed home to win.

The winner is trained by Fozzy Stack, son of Tommy who rode Red Rum to the third of his Grand National wins.

O’Brien was odds-on favourite to be leading trainer of the week but he is being challenged hard by someone he knows rather well — his eldest son, Joseph.

Enceladus’s win in the King George V Handicap gave Joseph, 33, his fourth win of the week — not a bad effort as he was 50/1 to be leading trainer at the outset.

“So delighted for Maria Niarchos [the owner], who has been very good to me throughout my career,” said O’Brien.

“To have four winners by Thursday here is far beyond what we could have dreamed.”