'Defeats were nothing to do with his ability' - Stradivarius camp are buoyant

Star stayer Stradivarius has connections convinced he can still be a force at the highest level as he gears up for his seventh season in training.

Owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, Stradivarius has achieved the kind of popularity often reserved for jumps favourites during his sublime Flat career, which has included four Goodwood Cups and three Gold Cup triumphs at Royal Ascot.

Sent off the 5-6 favourite to record a fourth success at the royal meeting last year, he hit trouble on the home turn after being positioned towards the rear by Frankie Dettori and could finish only fourth behind Subjectivist.

After getting back on the winning trail at York and Doncaster, he was twice beaten on easier ground by staying's new-kid-on-the-block Trueshan.

Bjorn Nielsen: 'The feeling is, like last year, that he's just as enthusiastic as ever'Credit: Edward Whitaker

The likely date for his return this year is May 13 in the Yorkshire Cup, a race he has landed twice, although a bid for back-to-back wins in the Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on April 27 is also being considered.

"We're probably leaning towards York," said Nielsen. "It will be the Sagaro or York and he's in great nick as far as I know. I saw him last week and I think he's the same as he's always been.

"He wants top of the ground, but every time he runs it starts raining.

"It's always been the case that if he's enthusiastic we'll keep on and the feeling is, like last year, that he's just as enthusiastic as ever. He's the same horse personality-wise and he lost a couple of races last year, which were nothing to do with his ability."

Nielsen bred Stradivarius to be a Derby horse, but has no complaints with how things have panned out.

John and Thady Gosden: joint-trainers of StradivariusCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "I'm always trying to breed the Derby-type horse - a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse and very often I've come up with a horse who stays further, and he's a rarity in that he's lasted so long and been so sound for so many years.

"He's never missed much in his whole career and he's got so much speed too – his final three furlongs tend to be his fastest. When he ran on the same Champions Day at Ascot in 2018 as Cracksman, Magical and Roaring Lion his times for the final three furlongs were fast, so he's got a good turn of foot.

"He's a mile-and-a-half horse who relaxes so well, but stays further."

Haydock novice winner Magisterial, who also carries Nielsen's familiar black silks, is entered in this year's Cazoo Derby and can be backed at 50-1 with bet365 for Epsom, but Betfred are only 25-1 about the Frankel colt.

"We'll see in the next two or three weeks, that's when people will start to know, but not many know now," the owner said in regard to the Classic picture and pecking order.

Derby entries

"The changeable weather could have knocked some horses back, we saw some nice horses win in Ireland over the weekend and a few more will turn up in the next month.

"A trial is probably likely for us depending on what he tells us, as John puts it. He'll probably show up at ten furlongs and the Feilden Stakes [on April 14] is a possible, but maybe not if it's a bit soon. There's that, the Newmarket Stakes and then all the other trials after that, so fingers crossed he can take the next jump and keep the dream alive."

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