Stradivarius duly made it three straight wins in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and this year’s running was his most impressive, sailing home 10 lengths clear at the end of two and a half miles.
Frankie Dettori looked to have an easy steer and having moved up effortlessly on the bridle behind long-time leader Nayef Road, Stradivarius went right away in the final furlong to win easily over Nayef Road with the Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter a further eight lengths away in third.
The six-year-old son of Sea The Stars joins Sagaro (1975, 1976, 1977) as a triple Gold Cup winner with only Yeats (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) having won the staying showpiece more and trainer John Gosden said he was proud to be in such elite company.
“For a horse to do that, I mean Sagaro was trained by a great friend of mine, Francois Boutin, and ridden by Lester Piggott. I remember watching all his races and he was something. Yeats was a phenomenon. To have a horse mentioned in that bracket is what it is all about,” Gosden said.
“We are very proud to have won the race three times and it is great for the owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen.
“He is passionate about his breeding and broodmares. He has been trying to breed a Derby winner, but he has got a very good Gold Cup horse. For him, it is profoundly fulfilling for him as much as it is for us – it is a pity he can’t be here today.
Gosden said Stradivarius was full of himself before the race.
“Stradivarius is quite a character. I must change my aftershave, as he got quite coltish whilst I was saddling him. I must have overdone the aftershave or something,” Gosden said.
“He is quite a noisy character and he was having a shout and play out there – he does think life is a bit of fun and when you win races like this, I suppose it is.”
Asked whether Stradivarius would return a tilt at a joint-record equalling fourth Gold Cup next year, Gosden said, “I am not sure, that’s Bjorn’s decision – the way he liked my aftershave I am not sure!
“We will look towards the Goodwood Cup and a fourth win there. He has won three of them already. We will have a look at that and if we run there, we might then take a pull.
“There is talk of running in an Arc. He ran brilliantly in the Coronation Cup and maybe an Arc on autumn ground is not out of the question.”
Charlie Appleby expressed himself satisfied with Cross Counter and indicated another trip to Australia is likely.
“I am very pleased with Cross Counter. The plan was to ride him cold and let him float round the back there and passing horses,” Appleby said,
“The long-term target has always been the Melbourne Cup. He ran a very creditable race in it again last year. I think more importantly, what we have seen today he is back to where he was in Melbourne. Just ride him chilly, as he sees it out well and has a good turn of foot.
“I was very encouraged to see what I saw today and hopefully there is a race or two left in him.”