Galloping into history /Stradivarius wins fourth successive Goodwood Cup
Stradivarius pulled off a dramatic piece of racing history with a memorable performance to win his fourth successive Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup – and is now set to be trained for the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe.
Sent off the 4-7 favourite, John Gosden’s stayer faced a major challenge on paper from the Royal Ascot and Irish Derby winner Santiago – with the three-year-old in receipt of 15lb.
Frankie Dettori and the three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner had plenty on their plate in the two-mile showpiece, forced into fifth on the inside of the field as several rivals came from off the pace which was set by Nayef Road and Santiago.
They managed to extricate themselves just in time, however, and Stradivarius produced a trademark change of gear to move past both big rivals in some style.
Nayef Road again had to settle for the runner-up spot, as at Ascot earlier this month, but this time was seen off by just a length – with another length and a quarter back to Santiago.
The six-year-old is now on a collision course with equally-illustrious stablemate Enable, with Betfair and Betway making him a 14-1 chance for the Arc at Parislongchamp in October.
Gosden said: “He will be going to the Prix Foy, so we will freshen him up now until the middle of September. He will go to the Prix Foy and if he runs a good race there, he will be going to the Arc.”
Reflecting on the victory, Dettori said: “I really did not expect the race to turn out like that, only sprinting for two furlongs. He’s so good and so versatile, he can get me out of trouble. You go from a superstar like Enable (in the King George at Ascot on Saturday) to an absolute champion like this horse in three days. It’s the stuff of dreams.”
For the third time in just over five weeks Glasses Up was the toast of Ayr yesterday when winning the feature race the QTS Sponsor The Ayr Gold Cup Handicap.
Mike Smith’s five-year-old won at the track on 22 June, was runner-up two weeks later before winning again last week and defying a penalty to land yesterday’s biggest prize by a short head from Ed Dunlop’s Master The Stars.
Dumfriesshire-based Iain Jardine watched his threeyear-old filly Reely Bonnie spring a 25-1 surprise when coming from last to first under an excellent Jamie Gormley ride to win division one of the Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap, while Archie Watson-trained Harrison Point won the Jordan Electrics Handicap when justifying 3-1 favouritism under top lady rider Hollie Doyle.
There were also wins for Hugo Palmer with Eastern Sheriff, ridden by Kevin Stott in the 1m5f handicap, and Willie Haggas whose New Chapter easily won the Scotty Brand Maiden Stakes under David Allan.
The most expensive horse on show, 525,000 guineas buy Cairn Island, romped clear to win the novice stakes for trainer Kevin Ryan and jockey Stott.