A look at the season of Stradivarius as he landed the stayers £1 million bonus
“It wasn’t his best performance but, hey, we’re millionaires!” This was the quote from connections following the gutsy performance by Stradivarius in landing the last leg of the stayers’ crown. This was a fantastic achievement for a horse in just the first season the offer was laid out. Here we cover his record breaking season.
Yorkshire Cup (Group 2) (British Champions Series)
Stradivarius kicked off his season in the Yorkshire Cup in which the horse racing odds made him a general odds on favourite. He entered the season as a likely contender for the stayers’ crown following a close third in the St Leger. It should also be noted that this was the strongest Leger for some time with the likes of Capri, Crystal Ocean and (the now) Melbourne Cup winner, Rekindling, finishing in the top four.
Against a strong field, under Frankie, Stradivarius was held up towards the rear but made eye-catching headway to close up three furlongs out. He would then take up the running at the furlong pole and quicken clear to win easily by three lengths. This was another key indicator of the horse’s staying ability and will to win. A classy performance from the Gosden horse.
Gold Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
His next start would be the most difficult as he contested Royal Ascot’s marque race; the Gold Cup. He would be taking on the likes of seasoned operator Order of St George and the classy French horse, Vazirabad. He was again well supported on the day and sent off as joint favourite, with the O’Brien horse, who was a very unlucky loser in the previous edition of the race.
Stradivarius looked very well prior to the race in comparison to Order of St George who was getting worked up. Tracking the leaders, he travelled well for the first circuit and, with three furlongs to run, Frankie started to push him along. The race was on as the four main market rivals settled down to battle for the line. Stradivarius led narrowly with a furlong to run and stayed on very gamely, always looking in control from the runner-up Vazirabad. This was a very game performance from the horse and he had also lost a shoe in the process, giving further props to the horse.
Goodwood Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
The dream was now on as the horse looked to win the third leg of the crown. This would be in the Goodwood Cup in which he would have to be ridden by Andrea Atzeni due to Dettori serving a ban. He was sent off a shade off odds on against his old rival Torcedor, who had finished behind him in the Gold Cup. Torcedor however, would be running with a penalty, so expectations were very high for success for the Gosden horse.
Stradivarius was held up in midfield, and had to commit along way out, with Torcedor attempting to kick clear. Stradivarius was chasing the leader and, for a brief moment, it looked like he would not pick him up before taking up the running just entering the final furlong. He stayed on powerfully to win by half a length eased down. The pair pulled over six lengths clear of the third, Idaho, in what was another fine example of the guts and staying power of the horse.
Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series)
The final leg was the Lonsdale Cup stakes at York. It looked to be his to lose with the opposition weak on the ground and most having ran behind him in the various races earlier on in the season. What is customary with the horse is that he stays on very powerfully in his races and this would be what gets him over the line again.
Sent off at odds of around 4/11, with his usual pilot Frankie back on board, he tracked the leaders before taking closer orders with four furlongs to run. However, he became slightly outpaced at the three pole mark with many worried faces around the track. He began to make good headway around two furlongs out before being ridden to lead, staying on powerfully to win comfortably. He cemented himself as the star dominant stayer of the season and landed connections that brilliant £1 million bonus.
