'We're not saying goodbye after that' - retirement ruled out for Stradivarius

Star stayer Stradivarius will run "at least once more" after his neck second to Kyprios in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained eight-year-old finished to good effect under Andrea Atzeni but could not quite extend his record tally to five in the day one feature at Glorious Goodwood.

Retirement had been mooted for Stradivarius before the race depending on his performance, but his owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen took great heart from the run and pinpointed the Lonsdale Cup at York – a race he has won three times – as a likely next target.

Nielsen said on ITV: "We're not going to say goodbye after that. He ran today with all his usual enthusiasm and he's still training well, so there's no point stopping in the middle of the season. These are the best stayers around and it looked a tremendous race going into it.

"It was a great performance and I'm happy to go on for at least one more run. York [Lonsdale Cup] would be on the cards as it suits him a lot – they have long straights and it's difficult to box him in there."

Andrea Atzeni gives the debrief to Bjorn Nielsen and John Gosden after the Goodwood CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nielsen did not shut the door on Frankie Dettori getting back aboard the popular stayer on the Knavesmire next month, while also criticising the prize-money for the Doncaster Cup at the Arena Racing Company-owned track.

The Doncaster Cup on September 9 is worth £130,000 whereas the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup on August 19 – another Group 2 – offers prize-money of £250,000.

He said: "Frankie has handled him well at York but I don't know whether he will ride him and haven't discussed that with John and Thady. Frankie was class today to come out and say good luck to Andrea beforehand after all these years.

"There's a good chance Stradivarius will go to York. Doncaster's prize-money is quite poor and I don't know if we'd go there. If they thought about upping their prize-money, maybe we would."

Stradivarius travelled well into the straight but a bump from Trueshan, who was rushed up on his outside by Hollie Doyle, at the four-furlong marker forced Atzeni to head towards the inner of the track to make his move.

Stradivarius returns to the winner's enclosure after his Goodwood Cup second on Tuesday

Nielsen said: "I was happy with the way he ran. I thought he was potentially in front half a furlong out but it was hard to tell with the angle. The front two were a long way apart and I don't know whether it was competitive enough for him then. If he was upsides it might have been a different story.

"Andrea said he was following Kyprios through and felt he would do him for speed, but then he got the bump from Trueshan which forced him to go inside."

Atzeni felt Stradivarius finished the race "like a champion" and believed he ran with great credit.

The rider said: "He ran his heart out again. The race went quite smoothly, they went a nice pace, and then Trueshan appeared at the four-furlong marker, but it was a long way out from home and I didn't want to get racing early.

"We made our challenge away from the winner but he ran all the way to the line like a champion."

Stradivarius has been a stalwart for the Gosdens, winning 20 of his 35 races and 18 at Group level, with Gosden snr believing he retains all his enthusiasm.

He said on Racing TV: "He ran a superb race. Our only frustration was we ended up on our own towards the inner and at his age he likes something to run with, but it was a wonderful run.

"As long as he's happy and enjoying his racing and training, there's no reason [to finish]. He's an eight-year-old entire and enjoying his life. We'll let Mr Nielsen know how he has come out of it in the coming days."

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