Gosden glad to have familiar faces in stable

OLD friends can always be relied upon to help restore a sense of normality in challenging times, as Stradivarius demonstrated with a record-breaking fourth Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup success.

In a much-altered season, John Gosden can be thankful for two of his established stars continuing to perform at the highest level – giving both his team and racing something to savour in a campaign which has been anything but ordinary.

With equine superstar Enable securing an unprecedented third King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, it was the turn of her equally-talented stablemate to take centre stage in the two-mile showpiece he has made his own under Frankie Dettori.

Although faced with having to give Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner Santiago 15lb, the 4-7 favourite justified his price tag in displaying the qualities of a real champion – forcing his way out between rivals late on and flying past Nayef Road before scoring by a length.

Gosden said: “I think to have two six year-olds it is a weighty responsibility, there is no doubt about it, but how fortunate we are to have them.

“They are amazing horses, that have both been sportingly kept in training. In the year we0 have had with this sinister disease it is nice to have old friends around.

“I felt enormous pressure on Saturday because she had been kept in training and if she hadn’t won something like a King George to set a record there it would have been something pretty devastating to drive home to.

“I think of Sagaro, trained Francois Boutin, I think of Ardross. They didn’t do all the different things he has and then there is the old boy Yeats who won four Gold Cups.”