Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore achieved their final objective at Royal Ascot with Mission Central, securing a complete set of wins at the highest level during England’s premier racing event.
Ridden by Moore, Mission Central ($13/14-1) made a late surge in the intensely competitive Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1005m), marking Moore’s 93rd victory at the Royal Meeting and the 433rd for the renowned Irish trainer.
If conditions align, Coolmore is considering the three-year-old gelding for the AU$20 million (GBP10.5 million) The Everest at Randwick in Sydney on October 17, despite the challenge of facing the world’s top-ranked sprinter and 2025 victor, Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising.
MISSION CENTRAL UPSETS THE AUSSIES‼️
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien have got the full set of Royal Ascot Group Ones! Huge runs from Overpass and Asfoora 👏 pic.twitter.com/rfMCxXtfAK
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 16, 2026
“There is Ka Ying Rising, but it would be great fun to get Aidan and this horse down for The Everest,” stated Coolmore supremo Tom Magnier.
“We have a slot and we’ll consider this horse after this win.”
Mission Central secured the sprint feature following two consecutive wins at listed level over sprint distances at Naas in Ireland in the preceding five weeks.
The Australian contender Overpass ($4/3-1) finished third behind Rayevka ($8/7-1), steered by Mikael Barzalona, while the 2024 winner Asfoora ($13/12-1) showed improvement despite ultimately crossing the line in seventh place.
“He showed a really good bit of spirit to go through those two leaders and look the winner at one point,” commented Overpass’s jockey Josh Parr.
“He didn’t get the best breakaway. He usually flies the barrier and we were then dictated to by the leader. That could have been the difference but I’m very happy with his performance.”
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