Super Stradi should be buoyant

Stradivarius is highly likely to claim a historic third successive Gold Cup – but those seeking a value investment will doubtless be looking at alternative events on day three of Royal Ascot.

There is little reason to dissuade anyone from supporting John Gosden’s brilliant stayer at inevitably short odds, if that is their bag.

Among those to catch the eye at bigger prices elsewhere on a high-class card, however, is Khaloosy in the Britannia Stakes. An all-weather grounding is an increasingly legitimate route to the very top on turf, and it should therefore not detract from Khaloosy’s achievements to date that his only two starts to date have come at Newcastle and Wolverhampton last October and November.

The grey son of Dubawi has a fine pedigree in terms of connections too, in the shape of trainer Roger Varian and owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Retained jockey Jim Crowley will ride him for the first time, replacing Jack Mitchell, who was on board for a promising debut second over seven furlongs and then a most impressive victory at the second attempt up to around this trip. That form is hardly out of the ordinary, but the manner of Khaloosy’s success was – and it was no surprise to discover he held an initial Derby entry, before coronavirus put paid to such published engagements and the best-laid plans of all at the start of this curious Flat season.

Nonetheless, a rating of 94 provides Khaloosy with a belated opportunity to demonstrate that high hopes remain well-founded to progress beyond handicap company.

Stradivarius, of course, is already in the most exalted company and by the time Khaloosy takes his next baby step, the dual Gold Cup winner’s standing among the all-time greats may well be significantly enhanced with a third straight win in the showpiece race.

Gosden’s superstar faces seven worthy opponents in his latest date with destiny, but he ought to be able to claim centre stage again.

Few can have been especially concerned by his predictable inability to quite match strides with the brilliant Ghaiyyath and last year’s resurgent Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck at a mile short of this favoured distance in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket this month.

Tapped for pace there, Stradivarius’ exertions told late on, but Gosden is a proven master of equine preparation, and on the day that matters most it is easy to envisage Frankie Dettori having a little up his sleeve from the four-year-old improvers Nayef Road and Technician.

Earlier on the stellar card, Molatham has fine prospects of initiating a possible highprofile double for the Khaloosy camp.