Ben Linfoot unpicks the result of the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup and says Stradivarius' fourth win in the race off a sedate gallop is evidence enough to have a crack at the Arc.
“I think he has probably got one of the biggest challenges of his career,” so said John Gosden, ahead of STRADIVARIUS’ mission for a record fourth Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.
The Clarehaven handler was specifically referencing the 15lb his star stayer had to give a Classic winner, Irish Derby hero Santiago, on the weight-for-age scale, but, as things turned out, that rival didn’t even finish second.
But it was yet another first for Stradivarius, the 16th of his incredible career. A seventh Group One. A glittering C.V that now contains four Goodwood Cups, a record, and he is the undisputable Cup king.
Indeed, for owner Bjorn Nielsen, his cup really does runneth over, so much so that he’s going to sacrifice another, of the Long Distance variety on Champions Day, in favour of a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
That race, against the cream of the middle distance crop, over a mile and a half, will be a very different test, but his latest Goodwood Cup win is at least some evidence that he’s worth a crack at Europe’s most prestigious prize.
The reason being they went slow here. A final time of 3mins35.07 seconds illustrates that, a time 13.87 seconds outside standard, relatively slow to the other races on the day, and by far the slowest of all his wins in this race, his 2017 victory being quicker by 10 seconds (he carried 8st-8lb that day, as opposed to 10-1 today).
A slow gallop enabled the son of Sea The Stars to show off his rapid turn of foot, a weapon that gives confidence he can be competitive in an Arc, and he needed it, as just over a furlong from home, for the briefest of moments, he looked in trouble as Eagles By Day and Danny Tudhope had him trapped in a pocket.
But once the ice-cool Frankie Dettori extricated him from the potentially race-ending situation he fairly flew home, accounting for Santiago and then the runner-up Nayef Road in the final furlong.
Ever the professional, Stradivarius had settled well off the sedate gallop and the first furlong was almost as crucial as the last, as while he was quickly in a relaxed groove Santiago was racing keenly under Ryan Moore.
It wasn’t enough of a reason for what was a slightly disappointing overall effort from Santiago, as it wasn’t an exaggerated keenness by any means, but it was perhaps at least partly why he was so readily brushed aside in the closing stages.
While it’s no disgrace to be beaten by a staying behemoth like Stradivarius, it is a little disappointing that he couldn’t get the better of Nayef Road, a solid 115-rated performer but not a horse you’d expect to be able to give a Classic winner 15lb and a beating.
Still, this was his first go at two miles, it wasn’t a bad run by any means and it would be harsh to conclude he did his St Leger claims any harm, a race for which he was nudged out to 3/1 from slightly shorter prices by some layers.
Nayef Road got the run of things out in front here under a very good front-running ride from Andrea Atzeni, a man who was on board Stradivarius for his first two Goodwood Cups.
A Goodwood winner over a mile and a half, he dictated off slow fractions up front and stuck on well to get the silver medal.
Second in the Gold Cup at Ascot, as well, he’s in pole position for the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day if Stradivarius does remain out of the equation.
Eagles By Day ran another good race in fourth and this was further evidence that he’s been revitalised by the switch to David O’Meara’s.
This was his first go at two miles and the feeling is he didn’t truly stay, although this wouldn’t put you off having another go.
With that in mind, with no million pounds on the line, and consequently no Stradivarius, the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York’s Ebor Festival looks the obvious race for him, although connections have the Sky Bet Ebor over 1m6f as another option.
Euchen Glen, another who was keen early, and Who Dares Wins were outclassed, while things didn’t pan out well for hold-up merchant, Spanish Mission. He’s probably at his best over a stronger gallop over a bit shorter and could be another one for the Ebor.
Finally, back to that quote from John Gosden at the top, this didn’t turn out to be the biggest challenge of Stradivarius’ career. He was simply far too good for that to be the case.
But connections are mapping out what will undoubtedly be his sternest test in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe now. It’s a bold plan, but it’s a stiff mile and a half at Longchamp and we know he handles soft ground, which is likely at that time of year.
Order Of St George was a recent stayer who ran well in defeat in the Arc, but you have to go back to Levmoss in 1969 for the last Gold Cup winner who dropped back in trip to be victorious in Paris.
Stradivarius will be a player, I’m convinced of that, and his intended presence adds an exciting layer of intrigue against his history-seeking stablemate, Enable, and the up-and-coming-weight-getting-three-year-olds, featuring Love.