3 minute read

Stradivarius won his second G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot today, but for once a wonderful horse's big-race victory was in danger of being overshadowed by his jockey.

The win meant that Frankie Dettori, who rode Stradivarius, completed a very rare Royal Ascot four-timer in consecutive races. The partnership, sent off the even-money favourite, won by a length from pace-setter Dee Ex Bee (7/2) with Master Of Reality (66/1) a nose further behind in third.

Not unnaturally winning trainer John Gosden was asked to comment on the jockey as much as the horse. He said: "Frankie is like a player who gets to the final of Wimbledon and then raises it to another level. He rode a beautiful race.

"He is a phenomenon - for a kid of 48 he is remarkable. And when he rides here he goes to another level. He's been in the gym, working out, and then he comes and rides out for me, and he's so relaxed. The horses are here to do a job, but he does it so beautifully with them and that makes a difference.

"[On the home turn] Stradivarius was held in by Capri and then he saw the light and Frankie managed to wriggle through. It was noted in commentary that he was in a rather tricky position, but he did the clever thing because he was drawn two and decided to save ground all the way and wait for a gap. It was a long wait, but the horse is very classy. 

"This is not Stradivarius' favoured ground - he is a much better horse on top of the ground - but he has just shown that he can still quicken on that kind of ground. Full marks to a remarkable horse, and a mercurial and remarkable jockey. 

"There have been some great stayers; Le Moss, Sagaro, who Francois Boutin brought over three times, Yeats as well. They are super, wonderful horses and great for the racing public because people get to know them. 

"This little guy with his white socks and white face looks like the Milky Bar Kid should be riding him rather than a jockey, but he is remarkable athlete and a charming horse to be around. He has a beautiful mind on him."

He may not be have the horses of Coolmore or Godolphin, and he has never owned a Classic winner, but Bjorn Nielsen is one of the most envied men in racing.

Nielsen owns and bred Stradivarius, the John Gosden-trained four-year-old who today won his second £500,000 G1 Gold Cup, and is homing in on the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million, a £1m bonus which he won last year. It involves winning four designated stayers' races, and after his Sagaro Stakes victory last month plus today's victory, Stradivarius must now land the G1 Goodwood Cup and the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Stakes to land the million for a second time.

Stradivarius became Frankie Dettori's fourth winner on the card, and Nielsen admitted: "During the third race I was saying to myself 'Get back, Frankie', because I did not believe he could win four races in a row. He's riding so confidently, and he rode Stradivarius confidently.

"He's such a good stayer, he has a huge heart, and his mind is so relaxed. I hope it can continue for a while.

"I don't have the [Weatherbys Hamilton] bonus in mind, because these races are so hard to win. People think you can just get these horses out and go and win the Goodwood Cup, but remember last year he lost a shoe in this race and was lame afterwards. That can take two or three weeks to get over and you can miss a race and the bonus. That's why I'm not focused on bonus - if he's fine and comes out of this race okay, then I'd like to take him to Goodwood."

Stradivarius was briefly boxed in by rivals as they turned into the straight, but Nielsen said: "I wasn't worried because I could see what was behind and how they were travelling, and I was sure he would get a gap at some point. Capri was on his outside, but he got tired, and once Frankie went through the gap it was over.

"Once he gets to the horse that's in front of him he goes and he's not for catching.

"Confidence is a lot in any sport, and while Frankie has had his setbacks his 'second career' is even better than his first. Now he's riding as well as ever, and he has so much confidence when he's riding here at Royal Ascot. That gives me confidence because he puts a horse in the right position and he doesn't make mistake in the big races."

The great Yeats won four Gold Cups, so would Nielsen like Stradivarius to pursue that record tally in the race. He said: "I'd like to keep Stradivarius going for as long as his mind and body want to do it. I'm not thinking Yeats, or even Sagaro, Le Moss and Ardross - they were such legends. You can never say he was in their league until his career has finished and you can look back and assess him. He's a very good horse, but they were legends and this is a different era.

"I'd love him to go on forever, but I know I'll be going through the valleys again one day when I'll be coming back here with no runners."