Super Strad can confirm superiority
Stradivarius can prove once again that he thoroughly belongs in the all-time list of greatest stayers by passing a new test in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes tomorrow.
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 front-running 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 he is the three-year-old 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 – with 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.
Half-an-hour before they strut their stuff, Space Blues can continue his progression in the Qatar Lennox Stakes.
Charlie Appleby’s colt saw off stablemate D’bai with anticipated ease at ParisLongchamp last month – and although he has yet to strike at this exalted level, he was twice Group One-placed at or around this trip last summer and looks ready to break new ground.
Devious Company has an opportunity to confirm he is well above average in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes.
Tom Dascombe’s colt made a fine impression with speedy Haydock victories on his first two racecourse appearances. The suspicion is he then ran into a future star when chasing home Apple by’ s Master Of The Seas in Newmarket’s Superlative Stakes this month.
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, at a course which should suit his prominent and exuberant style.
Goodwood opens with two tough handicap puzzles, but the rewards for solving them should be substantial.