Stradivarius: a star on the wane or a great stayer ready to prove himself again?

1.20 Ascot
Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) | 2m | 3yo+ | ITV/Sky

You will struggle to find a more dominant performance in a staying race than the one Stradivarius produced in the Gold Cup at the royal meeting here in June, and a Racing Post Rating of 125 for that ten-length demolition job was a career-best for the great stayer.

The big question is: can Stradivarius reproduce that level, or has he peaked?

He was 6lb below that form, according to RPRs, when landing a fourth Goodwood Cup next time and, while he was still able to win that day, he wouldn’t be a shoo-in for this race on that sort of form. His RPRs have been regressive since too, so he looks like a star on the wane this year.

Stradivarius: almost impossible to beat if replicating Gold Cup formCredit: Edward Whitaker

The pure figures might give you that impression, but it would be premature to write him off because his last two runs have both come over a mile and a half, a trip short of his optimum.

He probably wouldn’t have been fully wound up when beaten a short-neck by Anthony Van Dyck in the Prix Foy, his trial for the Arc (RPR 118) last month, and it’s not hard to ignore his below-par seventh in the Arc itself at Longchamp last time (112). That race developed into a messy, tactical affair and he never had any chance of winning a sprint up the straight.

He was beaten in this race last year by Kew Gardens, but a reproduction of that form would probably be good enough to win this season’s running. He was awarded an RPR of 121 that day and that is 3lb higher than any of these rivals have managed to muster.

Kew Gardens finished second behind Search For A Song before defeating Stradivarius in this race 12 months ago. That suggests Search For A Song might have been a serious contender had she made it to the race, and she confirmed herself a top-class stayer when beating Fujaira Prince to land the Irish St Leger for a second year in a row.

Search For A Song: might struggle to hold off Fujaira PrinceCredit: Patrick McCann

The Dermot Weld-trained filly recorded an RPR of 115, as did Fujaira Prince, but the latter had achieved a better ratings of 118 when landing the Ebor at York on his previous outing.

Crucially, that York run was on soft ground and Search For A Song is at her best on quicker going. Fujaira Prince has a good chance to reverse the Curragh form.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Stradivarius on song despite short break

John Gosden and owner Bjorn Nielsen made a late call on the participation of their talisman Stradivarius, who is making a fourth successive outing in the marathon that he won in 2018.

The six-year-old, who is set to stay in training in 2021, got the green light to participate after taking little out of himself when seventh in a slowly-run Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Stradivarius was beaten favourite in this race a year ago when desperate conditions forced it to be staged on the inner track, but the ground should not be as testing this time around.

Gosden said: "Stradivarius had three quick races in the Coronation Cup, Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup and then had a break before running the Prix Foy, which was a typical French trial in that they went slowly and then sprinted in the straight. He did well to finish second.

"He then went to the Arc, which was a very unsatisfactory contest in which he finished sixth not having been involved in a testing race at all."

Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori win the 2018 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

After a phone call to Nielsen in Majorca on Thursday morning it was confirmed that all systems are go for Ascot. Gosden continued: "Stradivarius is very fresh and well in himself and the owner is happy to let him take his chance only 13 days later.

"It's a lovely race with a big field and I wouldn't dream of doing it unless he was giving us all the right signals. If he'd had a hard race in the Arc, he wouldn't be running. However, Magical proved last year that you can have a hard race in Paris and win 13 days later.

"He's drawn on the rail in stall one, so goes the shortest way around which is a bonus! He's versatile as regard tactics, but if he gets boxed in so be it. They tried to box him in two years ago in the race but he still managed to get out and win."

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Broome, Sovereign and Dawn Patrol
Sovereign had a good run at Ascot and while he was a little bit disappointing in the Irish St Leger we think he'll leave that run behind him. He seems to be in good form. We're happy with Broome. It's his first run back after a break and we always thought he'd stay further than a mile and a half so we're hoping he runs well. Dawn Patrol ran a nice race at the Curragh last time. That was his first time up to that trip and with an ease in the ground and he did it well. We're hoping he runs well.

Roger Varian, trainer of Fujaira Prince
As his preference is for ground on the softer side, conditions weren't absolutely ideal at the Curragh when he was second last time and he will find things much more to his liking under foot here. The extra two furlongs should be well within his range.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Morando
He loves the ground and this time of year. We’ve been wanting to step him up in distance for some time now and he goes there with a live each-way chance.

Hollie Doyle, rider of Trueshan
I won on him twice last year and I think he'll appreciate stepping up to two miles for the first time. Obviously it's a big ask against the likes of Stradivarius, but he likes slow ground and is not without a chance.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Dubious Affair
It's a tough ask but she should enjoy the ground and we expect her to be competitive at her first go over two miles. She has been doing all her best running at the end over lesser trips, so hopefully this will suit her.

William Haggas, trainer of Monica Sheriff
She was disappointing in France. We’re hoping for a better performance this time.

Dermot Weld, trainer of Search For A Song
She's in super order. My filly has won two Group 1s and that entitles her to take her chance. I'm very happy with her in every possible way.

Harry Bentley, rider of Max Vega
It's a tough race but he wasn't beaten far when fourth in a Group 2 in France last time and will love the ground. He'll outrun his odds.

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