Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Ryan Moore has had to resort to Plan B in his quest to win a fifth Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Moore has won two of the past three Gold Cups aboard Kyprios but will instead ride Illinois in this year's renewal of the race on Thursday, after the star stayer was retired in late May.
"Hopefully, Illinois can prove to be a good replacement for Kyprios," Moore said in his World Pool blog.
"He's never gone this far before, but I've won it on a couple of four-year-olds who came into this race with the same sort of profile. You never know if they'll get the trip until you try it.
"He won the Queen's Vase here last year … he won well at Longchamp on his final start last season and then made a winning return at Chester this year.
"He gives every impression that he'll stay and that he'll like quick ground."
WATCH: Illinois' win at Chester
Inevitable from Illinois! Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien do it AGAIN at @ChesterRaces in the Ormonde Stakes... pic.twitter.com/h251sBdiTu
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 8, 2025
The four-time Longines World's Best Jockey Award winner nominated two of his key rivals for the 4000-metre staying contest, which has attracted a select field of eight runners.
"Candelaria is another four-year-old who's open to improvement and he deserves plenty of respect," Moore said.
"Trawlerman is the one who's been there and run very well before, so is a very solid challenger."
As well as his past successes in the event aboard Kyprios and Order Of St George, Moore holds a special place in Royal Ascot history thanks to his Gold Cup win in 2013 on Estimate, who was owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
WATCH: Moore's Gold Cup for Queen Elizabeth
Today, in honour of what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's birthday, we look back with delight on Estimate's captivating Gold Cup win at #RoyalAscot. Pure jubilation. pic.twitter.com/BVjazUIpCF
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) April 21, 2024
You can watch all the action every day from Royal Ascot live and free on Racing.com channel 68/78, Foxtel 529, Kayo and website. Coverage starts each night from 10.30pm AEST.