Royal Ascot: Broome bags Aidan O'Brien 900th Pattern race win

Broome swept trainer Aidan O'Brien to a remarkable 900th Group/Graded winner under both codes with an awesome display of front-running in the hands of Ryan Moore to take the Hardwicke Stakes.

Though last season’s Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane was sent off the odds-on favourite for the mile-and-a-half Group Two feature at Royal Ascot, he appeared to be carrying a little condition for his first run of the season on ground quicker than ideal and Moore’s aggressive tactics from a wide draw worked to perfection, as he took the sting out of Charlie Appleby’s runner.

The 6-1 chance, who landed the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July last year, kept grinding and as Hurricane Lane wilted. Mostahdaf and Jim Crowley gave chase, but found the winner three and a quarter lengths superior.

BROOME sweeps the floor with the competition in The Hardwicke Stakes to give Ryan Moore his 6th win this Royal Meeting. pic.twitter.com/fcAb260osE

"I didn’t realise that (900 top-level winners) and we are so privileged to be in the position we are and we are so grateful to everyone at Ballydoyle," said O’Brien, who also moved to 81 career winners at the Royal meeting – one behind Michael Stoute.

"In this life and world we take one day at a time and try to appreciate every day. We’re so grateful to do what we do every day. It’s incredible really."

Paying tribute to Moore, he said: "It was a brilliant ride. Ryan has done an incredible job on Broome. He is a six-year-old colt now and one very strange thing is that he seems to be coming to the peak of his career after all these years. He is by Australia and is very brave.

"We think we will see the best of him this year. Ryan gave Broome an amazing ride."

O’Brien indicated the King George