Gosden: Strad back in tune

TRAINER John Gosden says Stradivarius is in perfect condition to bounce back from his Royal Ascot defeat and land next week’s Goodwood Cup for a fifth time.

Stradivarius was fourth when trying to land a record-equalling fourth Ascot Gold Cup, never threatening impressive winner Subjectivist after jockey Frankie Dettori sat well off the pace and then encountered traffic problems on the home turn.

There will be no rematch at Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday with Mark Johnston-trained Subjectivist ruled out by injury.

Gosden, who trains Stradivarius in partnership with son Thady, said: ‘The Gold Cup was a fascinating race and Subjectivist put in a superb performance.

‘I think Frankie, having ridden him so brilliantly in previous Gold Cups, seemed to have a brainstorm and sit 12 lengths off the pace!’

LAST YEAR’S winner Space Blues heads the entries for Tuesday’s Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old won the Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February but has been absent since finishing unplaced in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in Dubai last March.

The second, third and fourth home in the Lennox 12 months ago — Paul and Oliver Cole’s Duke Of Hazzard, David O’Meara’s Escobar and John Quinn’s Safe Voyage — are also entered. CHIPOTLE, who endured a luckless run when the unplaced favourite in the Newbury Super Sprint on Saturday, could bid for compensation in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood.