Six in a row for Stradivarius as Gosden maps out second Stayers' Million bid

Flat racing's long-distance star Stradivarius launched his bid for a second Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million bonus in typically professional and reliably successful style by landing back-to-back runnings of the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup.

A moment of concern – when the whip was temporarily drawn by Frankie Dettori at the three-furlong marker – was quickly cast aside as the Bjorn Nielsen-owned homebred recorded a sixth consecutive victory, defeating Southern France by three-quarters of a length.

Last year, Stradivarius subsequently conquered the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup to land the inaugural £1 million prize and is set to take the same route with John Gosden warning there is even more to come from the flashy looking stayer.

The five-year-old was shortened to a top-priced 7-4 (from 2) to record a hat-trick of wins at the royal meeting and defend the Gold Cup on June 20, while Betfair cut him to 4-1 (from 11-2) to take the Stayers' Million for a second time.

Gosden, whose first of three wins in the Yorkshire Cup came courtesy of Duncan eight years ago, said: "Stradivarius is the best stayer I’ve trained but he’s never going to go and win by five lengths and show off – that's not his style.

"The season will map itself. We haven't trained him hard for this and the Gold Cup is a different ball game over two and a half miles.

Frankie Dettori prepares to give Stradivarius a warm embrace following the Yorkshire CupCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"The pace was slowed right down, which wasn't ideal, but I liked the way he showed a bit of grit at the end and he was a little ring-rusty so should come forward.

"He's not the polished, finished article but we hope to have that right at Royal Ascot."

Following Dettori's wake-up call, Stradivarius responded to the rider’s every urging, edging upsides the runner-up with just over a furlong remaining and asserting his authority close to home in giving 3lb to his rivals.

Nielsen attended his granddaughter's graduation and missed another successful Knavesmire mission, 26 years on from landing the race for the first time with the Richard Hannon snr-trained Assessor.

Gosden said: "Once Stradivarius gets over being a stallion when you're saddling him, by gnawing, shouting and slightly misbehaving, he goes out on the track and he's in a different zone. He's a street fighter.

"The key thing is not to overtrain him. He's very proud and knows to do enough in his work without being too generous. He's a pleasure to be around."

A trademark Dettori flying dismount to please racegoers on the Knavesmire after Stradivarius scored on his returnCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The three-time Group 1 scorer has been entered for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 6, for which he is a general 25-1 chance, but Gosden feels the stayers’ route is the way forward.

He said: "We’ll see where we are nearer the time. I was told to put him in the race to at least have the option but I’m happy with where we're going at this stage."

Fast ground suited Southern France in producing a career-best performance, while Mildenberger rallied well to finish third, but it was Stradivarius who landed the first blow to pass round one with flying colours.

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