Brilliant Stradivarius joins the pantheon of Ascot Gold Cup greats

Their third successive triumph in the stayers’ championship, the astonishing 10-length win over long-time leader Nayef Road was even more astonishing given the rain-sodden ground for the two and a half mile marathon.

Without doubt the most impressive of the horse’s 15 career wins to date for owner Bjorn Nielsen, Dettori was almost nonchalant as the field turned into the home straight and he saw all of his rivals struggling.

Yet, when he did ask the John Gosden-trained stayer to quicken, the result was instantaneous and the cheers of the racing staff present at Ascot could be heard loud and clear while the also-rans completed the final furlong.

They knew that they had witnessed history from a horse that, with luck, will attempt next year to equal the record four successive wins recorded by Aidan O’Brien’s superb Yeats between 2006-09.

The win merited a Dettori flying dismount, despite the absence of crowds due to Covid-19, before an emotional jockey spoke of his pride at his horse equalling the hat-trick of triumphs recorded by Sagaro, a Gold Cup legend, between 1975-77 under Lester Piggott.

“I’m so proud of the horse. He’s been a joy to be around.

“He’ll go down as one of the great stayers, like Yeats and Sagaro. Who knows, maybe we’ll try for four next year?” he enthused.

“Even with no crowd I’m quite emotional. A very proud moment. I was worried about the rain. They were talking up the Martyn Meade horse (Technician) a lot.

“It was a concern. He actually really surprised me, because he went through it like a hot knife through butter. I had everybody covered. I was surprised I didn’t have anyone to challenge me.

“It’s always that scary moment when you get to the furlong marker – will he pick up or not? – but he did and he stretched away by 10. Amazing.

“We purposely all stayed wide on the fresh ground. That helped a little bit, but nevertheless it was still very soft. It just shows what a fighter and how versatile he is. It’s all about Stradivarius today. He’s a wonderful horse. The horse deserves it. I’m very proud of him.”

This was echoed by the aforementioned Gosden who spoke of his relief after watching Stradivarius prevail in spite of conditions. He said: “It was a superb performance. I think the benefit of the Coronation Cup in a very fast time meant he was fully fit, but I was concerned that he was having to run again so quickly because of the bounce factor.

“It’s down to Bjorn (Nielsen. owner) whether we come back for a fourth. We might just look towards the Goodwood Cup next, he’s won three of them already, then we might take a pull as there is talk of running in an Arc.”

Meanwhile Nayef Road’s trainer Mark Johnston will be hoping to go one better today when stable star Elarqam lines up in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes.

The Middleham horse will be bidding to give jockey Jim Crowley, the week’s leading jockey, a seventh success at the meeting after a day three double coutesy of Molatham and Khaloosy.

The Group One highlight is the Commonwealth Cup, a six furlong sprint for three-year-olds in which Karl Burke’s Dubai Station and Richard Fahey’s Ventura Rebel will be representing Yorkshire.

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