Santiago out to emulate Ballydoyle stars on Vintage Crop comeback

4.20 Navan
Vintage Crop Stakes (Group 3) | 1m6f | 4yo+ | RTV/TG4

This Group 3 has been the springboard for almost all of Aidan O'Brien's top stayers, so it comes as no surprise to see Santiago making his seasonal reappearance here.

Yeats won it twice, as did Fame And Glory, while Leading Light and Order Of St George have also been successful in this on their way to bigger and better things.

Santiago certainly looks to be Ballydoyle's most promising stayer. He was a comfortable winner of last year's Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot and followed up in the Irish Derby when justifying 2-1 favouritism.

Perhaps a showdown with Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup came a little too early in his education, so there was no shame in finishing third there.

The worry with Santiago with regards to the Ascot Gold Cup is that he does not look an out-and-out stayer and 2m4f could stretch his stamina. He had the sufficient speed to travel best of all in the Irish Derby and looked the most likely winner two furlongs from home in the St Leger only to be outstayed.

The Gold Cup is 2m4f in June, this is 1m6f in April so it looks the ideal stepping stone.

Last year's winner Master Of Reality is back for more. He's been a model of consistency throughout his career and wasn't seen in his best light in the Melbourne Cup when only 15th to stablemate Twilight Payment.

Stratum has a fitness edge on his rivals. He stayed on strongly to win over 1m5½f at Gowran Park 17 days ago and is now rated 114, just 1lb shy of Santiago. However, he gets 4lb from that rival here.

Baron Samedi has been transformed from a 65-rated handicapper into a 112-rated Group performer and it will be fascinating to follow his progress this season against the big boys.

Will Santiago emerge as the biggest threat to Stradivarius?

If the betting is to be believed, the biggest danger to Stradivarius winning a fourth Ascot Gold Cup comes in the shape of Santiago.

Last year's Irish Derby hero is certainly relaxed enough to develop into a top stayer and he is no bigger than 8-1 to provide Aidan O'Brien with an eighth victory in the staying showpiece at the royal meeting.

Santiago and Stradivarius have already met. They clashed in the Goodwood Cup last July when the then three-year-old Santiago was in receipt of 15lb, but he was unable to deal with the late surge of the best stayer in the business. He is now a year older and a year wiser, so it would be no surprise to see him give him an even bigger scare.

Santiago (second left) finishes fourth in last year's St LegerCredit: Edward Whitaker

O'Brien reports Santiago to be in good shape for his first start since finishing fourth to Galileo Chrome in the St Leger at Doncaster in September.

"Santiago has done well over the winter and it's nice to have him," he said. "We're hoping he will develop into a nice stayer this year and you could be thinking of races like the Gold Cup at Ascot, but it's not guaranteed that he will be a two-and-a-half-mile horse. We'll have to wait and see. He travels with plenty of class through his races."

What the rest say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Baron Samedi and Master Of Reality
Baron Samedi was a revelation last year, transforming from looking very moderate to winning five races in a row, including a Group 2 at Longchamp. We think he might be able to stay a bit further this year and how he copes with this longer trip will be our main focus here. He should improve from whatever he does and we're excited to see how he runs. Master Of Reality has been a super horse for us, going close in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup in 2019. He tends to improve with racing, so he's highly likely to improve on whatever he does here. We're looking forward to another exciting season with him.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Emperor Of The Sun
Quick ground would be a little bit of a concern and he has a bit to find on ratings, but he's in good form and we're hoping for a good run.

Andy Slattery, trainer of Sunchart
I was thrilled with him at Naas. He had two big heaves in the race, so he will improve. This is more his trip and he seems to be in great form. I wouldn't want the ground to dry out too much for him.

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