Doddle for Dettori as odds-on favourite glides to victory
STRADIVARIUS and Frankie Dettori laughed at their rivals as they turned the Yorkshire Cup into a procession on the Knavesmire yesterday.
The strapping four-year-old, who was a close third in the St Leger in September, made no mistake as he disposed of Desert Skyline and the Queen’s Call To Mind.
The Italian rider took a pull on the odds-on shot halfway up the straight and was looking behind for dangers two furlongs out before gliding to a three-length victory.
Paddy Power cut him to 5-2 joint favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup with Order Of St George.
Happy
But John Gosden said there was no guarantee that Stradivarius would stay the extra six furlongs in the 2m 4f Gold Cup next month
Gosden said: “I’m happy he’s back on track. But the Ascot Gold Cup will be uncharted territory.
“The thing that gives me hope that he’ll stay is that he relaxes so well in his races.”
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Frankie Dettori looked like he was conducting the orchestra when he looked behind and took a pull on Stradivarius about two furlongs from home.
“It’s hard to recall an easier Yorkshire Cup hero and given fast ground, which is the norm at the royal extravaganza, you’d have to fancy him to beat Order Of St George. ‘Big’ John Gosden, inset, certainly won’t be losing any sleep over the opposition after that rout.”
Owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen was winning the race for the second time, 25 years after he was successful with Assessor.
Stradivarius is also in with a chance of netting the WH Stayers’ Million, a new £1m bonus, if he goes on to win the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale back at York.
Threading was regarded as a potential superstar by Mark Johnston after winning the Lowther Stakes here last summer but went on to flop twice at Newmarket in the Cheveley Park and the Nell
Gwyn.
But she bounced back to form in the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Fillies’ Stakes.
She will now stay over a mile and could head to the Irish 1,000 Guineas and possibly the Coronation Stakes. Her task was made easier when favourite Sheikha Reika was withdrawn after getting upset in the stalls.
Johnston said: “I need to go back and look at how she ran at Newmarket and look at what happened. You don’t judge a horse by his worst runs. You go again. This race fell apart at the start but the second horse is highly rated.
“Today she was relaxed and William [Buick] said she was taking more of a grip and was full of confidence.
“She is entered everywhere as we thought she might come back to sprinting but she won’t be doing that. She is in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.”
Johnston confirmed that Dee Ex Bee was more likely to run in the Investec Derby than Dante second Mildenberger, who is in the same ownership.
Signora Cabello dashed to victory in the Langleys Solicitors Marygate Fillies’ Stakes and now has a date at Royal Ascot in the Queen Mary Stakes. Malton trainer John Quinn was thrilled with the daughter of Camacho who saw off a competitive field in the Listed contest.
He said: “We have always liked her. She was unlucky on her debut as she was in the stalls for eight minutes at Beverley and I felt she would have hosed up. Usain Bolt would have been beaten if he was stuck in the blocks for eight minutes.
“We went to Bath and she looked like she was going to win by a length or two and then she idled. She has a good pedigree and next stop is the Queen Mary. But we love to win here at the Dante meeting. In many ways this is our Ascot.”