Luc-Tattoo made a triumphant comeback under Ryan Moore as he passed the test of Bay Bridge to win the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) on May 28 in Curragh.
✨ Luxembourg beat Bay Bridge in the thrilling Gr.1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at @curraghrace because @Ballydoyle.
He was bought by MV Magnier for 150,000gns from @TheCastlebridge In #TattsOctober Book 1.pic.twitter.com/6MTXypfWPa
– Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) May 28, 2023
The son of camel finished fifth in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the same track at the start of the month, but returned to his best form to help coach Aidan O’Brien take a record-long 10th win in Group 1.
Bay Bridge, who finished third at the Prix Ganay (G1) in his comeback last month, cruised strongly under Richard Kingscote all the way through but had to wait to find the gap due to his presence. Donnacha O’Brien Trained Piz Badile on the outside of himself.
The Champion Stakes (G1) winner finally got some daylight with a half and a half to go, but couldn’t get past Luxembourg, who did it all and made big money up front.
Runner-up Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) Vadeni got kicked out of the favorites 11-8 but was only able to take fifth place.
Luxembourg was seven miles behind Vadeni the last time the pair clashed at Longchamp, but he beat that horse in the Irish Championship Stakes at Leopardstown last season. After Luxembourg’s third win in Group 1, Moore told Racing TV: “I’m glad he’s back.
“He’s the winner of group 1 in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place. Things didn’t go well for him last year. He played well in Guineas and didn’t make it to Epsom but came back and won. Win the Champion Bet.
“The ground at the Arc was terrible and that didn’t happen. I was really pleased with him in the last mile there—he found a lot. He didn’t have a lot of races so I wanted to think. that he’ll come in a little while.”
Luxembourg were beaten 3-1 by Paddy Power from 10-1 to Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot next month with Betfair also winning 5-1 (from 12) for Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown .
On Luxembourg’s future prospects, Moore added: “There are a lot of good horses in the division.
“I know Bay Bridge is a good horse, I’m not sure what happened to Vadeni today, but I know he’s a good horse. Adayar , Hukum And Desert Crown lots of good horses but I’d say it was my horse’s best performance today, so hopefully he can support it and find more.”
