TALKING POINT

“A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME STAYER”

AFTER winning the Ascot Gold Cup by an uncharacteristic 10 lengths, it was as you were and back to his modus operandi of smaller winning margins for Stradivarius (pictured) in his fourth Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

If Battaash is a once-in-a-generation sprinter, Stradivarius is a once-in-a-lifetime stayer. If not the best, he is by some margin the most accomplished.

Two furlongs out, Frankie Dettori did not appear to have much of an exit strategy from a pocket. But it’s more slow motion at the end of a two-mile race and the gap came. As he does, once in the clear, Stradivarius showed his trademark turn of foot and has now set up a possible clash in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with stable companion Enable.

Once again, it was Nayef Road who followed Stradivarius home. The slight disappointment of the race was Irish Derby winner Santiago, who couldn’t put up a fight back in third.

Dettori expressed surprise at the tactics, which played to Stradivarius’ strengths.

“It was a two furlong sprint and you’d have to be pretty good to outsprint Stradivarius,” he said. “I was a bit worried though. When you sprint, it can take a furlong to find your rhythm but his greatest asset is his turn of foot for a stayer – he’s class and all heart. It was his biggest test giving a Derby winner [Santiago] 15lbs, that’s pretty good going. I’m not going to put them off going for the Arc, but I’m riding Enable at the moment.”

Winning trainer John Gosden added: “In Stradivarius and Enable, we have two fantastic horses with great minds, who have stood training, have mental strength and sporting owners – we’re sensitive to the horses’ needs. That’s what it is all about, whether you are training dogs or working with animals in the wild, psychologically you have to tune in with them.”