YORK (England), June 16: French raider Westerner won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot at York on Thursday, gaining sweet revenge for its second place last year. The 7-4 favourite Westerner, trained by Elie Lellouche for Alec Wildenstein, led a late surge through the field to pip Michael Stoute’s Distinction to the finishing post by a neck.

It was French jockey Olivier Peslier’s first win on British soil this season.

Pat Smullen’s Irish raider Vinnie Roe finished third out of the 17 starting horses over the two-mile four-furlong course.

—AFP