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Star stayer Stradivarius headlines 30 entries (up from 26 in 2018) for the £500,000 G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup, the feature race on the first day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Tuesday, July 30, as he continues his pursuit of a second successive Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million bonus.
Successful in the Qatar Goodwood Cup in both 2017 and 2018, Stradivarius (John Gosden) has the chance to become just the second triple winner of the historic two-mile contest, an accolade held only by the great Double Trigger (1995, 1997, 1998).
Stradivarius cemented his standing as Europe's top stayer with another thrilling display in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, as he defeated main rival Dee Ex Bee (Mark Johnston) and Irish challenger Master Of Reality (Joseph O'Brien IRE) in commanding fashion. That was five-year-old's second victory in the two-and-a-half-mile highlight, and his seventh win on the bounce.
Many believed Dee Ex Bee, the 2018 Investec Derby runner-up, had the armoury to topple Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, following a pair of dominant victories in the G3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot and G3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park, and connections have not given up hope of doing so.
Dee Ex Bee's trainer Mark Johnston has an excellent record in the Qatar Goodwood Cup, having won the race five times in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the aforementioned Double Trigger, Royal Rebel (2000) and Darasim (2004).
Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: "Dee Ex Bee has come out of the Gold Cup well and, although we are no longer in the running for the WH Stayers' Million, the Qatar Goodwood Cup looks a fairly obvious next target.
"We were very pleased with the horse last week; I don't think there was any reason not to be.
"It was a great run in defeat and again he showed what a fantastic attitude he has, coming from looking like he would finish third or fourth at the furlong marker to getting back up for second in the final stride.
"The winner is a true champion who has shown now over the last 18 months that regardless of what conditions are thrown at him, he finds a way to win. And on that particular day, Frankie [Dettori] at one stage seemed almost invincible.
"Going forward, we are thinking that it is probably not ideal for our horse to make his own running. Having something to aim at might help him, as he enjoys a battle.
"We came off second best and are under no illusions that the winner will start favourite again, but we are looking forward to having another crack at him."
The 2018 Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter (Charlie Appleby) is on course for the Qatar Goodwood Cup after faring best of those who came from off the pace in the Gold Cup, finishing a close fourth. The classy four-year-old is no stranger to success at Goodwood, having lowered the 12-furlong course record in last season's G3 Qatar Gordon Stakes, in which Dee Ex Bee finished second.
Flag Of Honour, winner of the G1 Irish St Leger in September, headlines nine entries for Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has also put in promising three-year-olds South Pacific and Constantinople, first and second in the 12-furlong King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Andrew Balding's entries, both owned by King Power Racing, were successful at the Royal Meeting. Three-year-old Dashing Willoughby captured the G2 Queen's Vase, the race Stradivarius took before going on to Qatar Goodwood Cup glory in 2017, while the more experienced Cleonte landed the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Sylvester Kirk's stable star Salouen could tackle two miles for the first time after mixing it with the best over 12 furlongs. He has made the frame in the last two runnings of the G1 Coronation Cup over 12 furlongs at Epsom Downs.
There are two interesting French contenders in Amade (Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti) and Funny Kid (Christophe Ferland), who have both tasted success on the All-Weather in Britain. Amade was on his travels again last time out when plundering the G1 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational in the US on June 7, while Funny Kid was also successful on his latest start in a Listed event at Chantilly on June 21.
The Qatar Goodwood Cup is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
