Superb Stradivarius makes Goodwood history with fourth stayers’ Cup win

FRANKIE Dettori played a late ‘get out jail card’ to win an unprecedented fourth Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on the superstar stayer Stradivarius.
Frankie Dettori wins a record-breaking fourth goodwood Cup on Stradivarius.Frankie Dettori wins a record-breaking fourth goodwood Cup on Stradivarius.
Frankie Dettori wins a record-breaking fourth goodwood Cup on Stradivarius.

Caught on the inner as the runners galloped towards the final furlong, Stradivarius extricated himself from an unpromising position before striding clear on this historic afternoon on the Sussex Downs.

And this victory eclipsed the three Goodwood Cup wins recorded by the legendary Yorkshire stayer Double Trigger who was trained at Middleham by Mark Johnston.

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As such, it was fitting that Johnston’s Nayef Road was, once again, runner up to Stradivarius who runs in the colours of owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen.

Only Spoofing ridden by Kieran O'Neill (left) wins the Qatar Handicap Stakes during day one of Glorious Goodwood.Only Spoofing ridden by Kieran O'Neill (left) wins the Qatar Handicap Stakes during day one of Glorious Goodwood.
Only Spoofing ridden by Kieran O'Neill (left) wins the Qatar Handicap Stakes during day one of Glorious Goodwood.

Beaten 10 lengths by Stradivarius in the Ascot Gold Cup, just a length separated the two protagonists this time – testament to a slowly-run race that then turned into a sprint finish – with Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner Santiago a close third.

Yet the fact that the three-year-old Santiago was in receipt of 15 pounds from Stradivarius under racing’s weight-for-age allowances makes this performance even more special given this concession in such a tactical battle on an undulating track where balance is key.

It’s also convinced Nielsen to target this October’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe where opponents will include the Gosden-trained and Dettori-ridden Enable who will be seeking a historic third win in the race.

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She rolled back the years to win her third King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last weekend to begin another virtuoso 72 hours for 49-year-old Dettori whose longevity, and big race record and temperament, merits comparison with the legendary Lester Piggott and late Pat Eddery.

Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori stride clear of Nayef Road (left) in the Goodwood Cup.Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori stride clear of Nayef Road (left) in the Goodwood Cup.
Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori stride clear of Nayef Road (left) in the Goodwood Cup.

“What a horse,” enthused Dettori.

“Giving 15lb away, everybody rode to beat men and he still got out and won. What can you say? He’s an amazing horse.

“You go from a superstar like Enable to an absolute champion like this horse in three days. It’s the stuff of dreams.

“I know I’ve got a good partner and I just had to be patient. When you’ve got good horses the gaps will come. I’ve been in that position before. It’s not nice to be in those positions, but he got out and he won.”

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Despite Nayef Road putting up a career-best run in defeat, there was compensation for the Johnston team when Maydanny beat stablemate Sky Defender by five lengths to land a one-two in the Unibet You’re On Handicap.

Assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said of the Silvestre de Sousa-ridden favourite: “He has always been a horse held in high regard because of his pedigree. He was quite difficult in his early years and was gelded in the winter last year and that made a big difference to the horse.”

Meanwhile the five furlong Qatar Handicap sprint saw Only Spoofing, trained at Leyburn by Jedd O’Keeffe and ridden by Kieran O’Neill, deny Acclaim The Nation and Malton jockey Jason Hart in the final strides of another thriller.

In other news, Marcus Tregoning reports Mohaather in fine shape as he goes for Group One glory in a star-studded edition of the Qatar Sussex Stakes – Glorious Goodwood’s day two highlight.

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The lightly-raced four-year-old was an impressive winner of Ascot’s Summer Mile from San Donato, erasing the memory of a luckless run in the Queen Anne won by Circus Maximus at the Royal meeting.

And that win convinced the former Derby-winning trainer to take on both Kameko, winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, and Siskin who won the Irish equivalent.

“He’s in good form. It’s not a biggish field, and hopefully he’ll run very well,” said Tregoning.

“He’s done very well. In all honesty, it was quite an easy race for him (at Ascot) as it turned out. He didn’t have that hard a race and came out of it rather well. He cantered the next day, and we’ve been happy with him since.

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“It’s a tough order, but I don’t think we could have Mohaather any better and he deserves a crack at it. I don’t see why he won’t handle the track because he’s a neat horse who travels well and has plenty of speed.”

Ger Lyons believes Siskin has to improve on what he has achieved so far to prevail against the likes of Mohaather, but jockey Colin Keane has decided to take the ride before submitting himself to two weeks quarantine on his return to Ireland.

“He is working well at home, but he does need to improve. Only when he runs will we know if he has or not. The Guineas is in the bag, and that can’t be taken away,” said Lyons.

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