Dance to tune of Stradivarius

TIPS: Gosden’s sixyear-old looks to add fourth win in Goodwood Cup

STRADIVARIUS can prove once again that he thoroughly belongs in the alltime list of greatest stayers by passing a new test in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes.

John Gosden’s six-year-old is bidding to win this coveted Group One prize, the showpiece on day one of Glorious Goodwood, for the fourth time in succession.

Lying in wait, however, is a dangerous opponent with the aspirations and profile Stradivarius himself had when he first struck over this course and distance in 2017.

In receipt of almost a stone from the majority of the field as a three-year-old back then, Stradivarius lowered the colours of favourite Big Orange.

He did so, having signalled his staying potential with victory in Royal Ascot’s Queen’s Vase.

For good measure in opposition this time, Aidan O’brien’s Santiago has added a hard-fought Irish Derby success to his Ascot gains and the three-year-old is out to rain on the favourite’s parade by taking advantage of an even bigger weight differential.

The snag for Santiago, though, is that Stradivarius demonstrated emphatically last month – his memorable 10-length trouncing of his Gold Cup opponents at Ascot, for his third victory in that great race – that he is at least as good as ever.

Peerless then, and due to return to favoured quicker ground here, Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori can be expected to have the rest dancing to their tune as usual.

DEVIOUS COMPANY has a chance to confirm he is well above average in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.

Tom Dascombe’s colt made a fine impression with speedy Haydock wins on his first two racecourse appearances.

He then ran into a future star when chasing home Appleby’s Master Of The Seas in Newmarket’s Superlative Stakes.

The winner that day could well turn out to be exceptional and if so, Devious Company has already shown enough to strongly suggest he can make it three career wins from four.