Classy Stradivarius in hunt for bonus to tune of £1m

STRADIVARIUS set up the prospect of a £1million bonus for his connections as he continued his fantastic campaign by successfully defending his crown in the Qatar Goodwood Cup.

John Gosden’s star stayer had already won the Yorkshire Cup and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot this season, leaving him on course to land the bonus if he could add the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup at

York through the inaugural WH Stayers’ Million.

With Andrea Atzeni on his back for the first time since last year’s Goodwood Cup, replacing the suspended Frankie Dettori, Stradivarius was the 4-5 favourite to continue his winning run and travelled powerfully throughout.

Stradivarius was good value for the winning margin of half a length.

Gosden ( above) confirmed all roads now lead to York on August 24.

He said: “He’s got a lot of heart, and he was very determined to go and win his race. He (Atzeni) said the race was comfortably under control in the last furlong.

“That (Lonsdale Cup) would be the obvious choice, I’m sure they’ve got it very well insured!

“We’ll have to do everything we can to try to win it. We’ll see how the horse is, there’s three and a bit weeks, which should hopefully be fine.

“Let’s see if we can get there.”

Reflecting on the race, Gosden said: “It was a tremendous horse race. They (Stradivarius and second placed Torcedor) are two really brave horses and it’s the Ascot Gold Cup form.”

Atzeni said: “I’m in a very lucky position to be here. Unfortunately Frankie is suspended, but he’s been very helpful and these big days are what it’s all about.”

The Gosden and Atzeni partnership also have the favourite, Without Parole, in today’s feature, the Qatar Sussex Stakes.