The Gold Cup
Group 1, Ascot 16:20
£500,000 added,
4yo plus,
2m 3f 210y, Class 1   
Thursday 21st June 2018

1 Stradivarius 7/4F
2 Vazirabad 9/2
3 Torcedor 14/1
9 ran Distances: ¾l, hd, 3l
Time: 4m 21.08s (slow by 1.08s)

Frankie Dettori wins his SIXTH Royal Ascot Gold Cup on board Stradivarius!

Stradivarius
© Racehorse Photos
Stradivarius
 
One of racing's greatest trainers landed his first G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot today.
 
The famous race was a rare omission from the illustrious CV of Newmarket-based John Gosden, but the four-year-old colt Stradivarius, owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen and ridden by the inimitable Frankie Dettori, filled the vacancy in style. Stradivarius tracked his 7/4 joint-favourite, Order Of St George into the straight, but when that rival appeared to be emptying and Torcedor (14/1) went on, Dettori was alert to the danger and headed in pursuit. 
 
He drove his mount past Torcedor and then had enough in reserve to hold the late-challenging French runner Vazirabad (9/2), who loomed as a danger, had every chance, but was fighting a losing battle near the line as the winner began to inch away. Vazirabad, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, took second, beaten three-quarters of a length, and there was a head back to Torcedor in third. Order Of St George, who won the Gold Cup in 2016 and was second last year had to be content with fourth.
 
Gosden said: "It was an extraordinary race. Frankie said they didn't go that quick, and his heels were definitely down early on, which meant the horse was taking him on. 
 
"Frankie got himself out of a pocket, which was essential with the pacemaker coming back, and got himself in the perfect position. But as usual, Mr Soumillon was waiting like all good Frenchman to pounce late and frustrate us.
 
"What an exciting finish that was - and look at the line-up as they headed to the line. That's a pretty smart front four. 
 
"It was a fascinating tactical race, because if Frankie had gone too soon there was the danger that Vazirabad would nail him - if he had committed to kill off a rival at the furlong pole the French could have come along to collect the prize so he had to be careful of that."
 
Stradivarius had not run over today's stamina-testing trip of two and a half miles, although he had won the G1 Goodwood Cup last year over two miles, as well as being placed in the G1 St Leger. Fears about his stamina for the Gold Cup began to evaporate inside the final furlong as he ran to the line tenaciously.
 
Gosden said: "He did see it out and he was going away at the finish. He's a proper little staying horse that we call Mighty Mouse because he's not very big - he looks a bit like a mini Trigger with his four white feet, but he is a gorgeous horse. He's done it really, really well, and loves this ground as he can flick off it and quicken well. 
 
"It's lovely to win the Gold Cup - I've had horses placed in it a few times."
 
Stradivarius is a son of the great racehorse Sea The Stars, and Gosden said: "Mr Nielsen has bred horses for years, but it's interesting, you try to breed a Derby winner and end up with a Gold Cup winner."
 
Stradivarius is now on track to land the W H Stayers' Million, a £1m bonus designed to encourage breeders and owners to produce and/or buy staying horses. He won one of four designated prep races in May and now needs to win the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup and York's Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Stakes to land the prize.
 
Gosden said: "He will go back to Goodwood next - he won the race last year - and then try for the Lonsdale Stakes. I've heard the bonus is well insured . . ."

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Gold Cup (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£500,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Firm

Pos Dr Dis Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st (6) Stradivarius (IRE) 7/4j L Dettori
9-1		 J H M Gosden 4
2nd (5) ¾ Vazirabad (FR) 9/2 C Soumillon
9-2		 A Royer De Dupre 6
3rd (9) hd Torcedor (IRE) 14/1 C O'Donoghue
9-2		 Mrs J Harrington 6
4th (7) 3 Order Of St George (IRE) 7/4j R L Moore
9-2		 A P O'Brien 6
5th (1) 7 Scotland (GER) 50/1 Jim Crowley
9-2		 A M Balding 7
6th (4) 1¼ Sheikhzayedroad 33/1 M Harley
9-2		 D M Simcock 9
7th (8) 3¼ Max Dynamite (FR) 20/1 W Buick
9-2		 W P Mullins 8
8th (3) 8 Mount Moriah 33/1 Harry Bentley
9-1		 R M Beckett 4
9th (2) 29 Desert Skyline (IRE) 11/1 S De Sousa
9-1		 D R C Elsworth 4

FreeRacingTips

THE GOLD CUP - Past Results

2017-WINNER-BIG ORANGE 6-9-02 Owner-Bill & Tim Gredley; Trainer-Michael Bell; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-5/1
2ND-Order Of St George 5-9-02 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore;
SP-5/6 Fav
3RD-Harbour Law 4-9-00 Owner-Jackie Cornwell; Trainer-Laura Mongan; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-33/1
14 ran; Time-4m 22.4s; Dist-sh, 6

2016-WINNER-ORDER OF ST GEORGE 4-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-10/11 Fav
2ND-Mizzou 5-9-02 Owner-Jon Kelly; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Andrea Atzeni; SP-10/1
3RD-Sheikhzayedroad 7-9-02 Owner-Mohammed Jaber; Trainer-David Simcock; Jockey-Martin Harley; SP-40/1
17 ran; Time-4m 26.21s; Dist-3, 2¼

2015-WINNER-TRIP TO PARIS 4-9-00 Owner-La Grange Partnership; Trainer-Ed Dunlop; Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-12/1
2ND-Kingfisher 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP- 5/1
3RD-Forgotten Rules 5-9-00 Owner-Moyglare Stud; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran; Time-4m 22.61s; Dist-11⁄4, nk

2014-WINNER-LEADING LIGHT 4-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey- Joseph O’Brien; SP-10/11F *fin 3RD promoted to
2ND-Missunited 7-8-13 Owner-Vanessa Hutch; Trainer-Michael Winters IRE; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-40/1 *fin 4TH promoted to
3RD-Brown Panther 6-9-02 Owner-Andrew Black & Owen Promotions Ltd; Trainer-Tom Dascombe; Jockey- Richard Kingscote; SP-5/1
13 ran; Time-4m 21.09s; Dist-nk, sh, 4½ (original finishing order) Estimate finished second but was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race test

2013-WINNER-ESTIMATE 4-8-11 Owner-The Queen; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Simenon 6-9-02 Owner-Wicklow Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/1
3RD-Top Trip 4-9-00 Owner-J Vasicek; Trainer-Francois Doumen FR; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-7/1
14 ran; Time-4m 20.51s; Dist-nk, 1

2012-WINNER-COLOUR VISION 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-6/1
2ND-Opinion Poll 6-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-5/1
3RD-Saddler’s Rock 4-9-00 Owner-Michael O’Flynn; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/2
9 ran; Time-4m 42.05s; Dist-½, nk 4/5 Fav Fame And Glory (7th)

2011-WINNER-FAME AND GLORY 5-9-02 Owner-Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Fitri Hay; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Opinion Poll 5-9-02 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Mahmood Al Zarooni; Jockey-Mickael Barzalona; SP-16/1
3RD-Brigantin 4-9-00 Owner-Team Valor; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Pierre-Charles Boudot; SP-16/1
15 ran; Time-4m 37.51s; Dist-3, 4½

2010-WINNER-RITE OF PASSAGE 6-9-02 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen;
SP-20/1
2ND-Age Of Aquarius 4-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Eduard Mordukhovitch; Trainer-Aidan
O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-8/1
3RD-Purple Moon 7-9-02 Owner-Craig Bennett; Trainer-Luca Cumani; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-12/1
12 ran; Time-4m 16.92s; Dist-nk, 6 11/4 Fav Ask (5th)

2009-WINNER-YEATS 8-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-6/4 Fav
2ND-Patkai 4-9-00 Owner-Ballymacoll Stud; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-9/2
3RD-Geordieland 8-9-02 Owner-A Taylor, K Conlan, D Carberry; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-11/4
9 ran; Time-4m 20.73s; Dist-3½, 15

2008-WINNER-YEATS 7-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 7-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Shane Kelly; SP-15/2
3RD-Coastal Path 4-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre-FR; Jockey-Stephane Pasquier; SP-2/1
10 ran, Time-4m 21.14s, Dist-5, 4½,

2007-WINNER-YEATS 6-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-8/13 Fav
2ND-Geordieland 6-9-02 Owner-Mountgrange Stud; Trainer-Jamie Osborne; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-12/1
3RD-Le Miracle 6-9-02 Owner-Gestut Hachtsee; Trainer-Werner Baltromei GER; Jockey-Dominique Boeuf; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time 4m 20.78s, Dist 1½, 3½

2006-WINNER-YEATS 5-9-02 Owner-Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon;
SP-7/1
2ND-Reefscape 5-9-02 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-100/30
3RD-Distinction 7-9-02 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-5/2 Fav
12 ran, Time-4m 20.45s, Dist-4, hd

2005-WINNER-WESTERNER 6-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer-Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-7/4
Fav
2ND-Distinction 6-9-00 Owner-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-33/1
3RD-Vinnie Roe 7-9-02 Owner-Seamus Sheridan; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-9/2
17 ran, Time-4m 19.49s, Dist- nk, 5 (Run at York)

2004-WINNER-PAPINEAU 4-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-5/1
2ND-Westerner 5-9-02 Owner-Ecurie Wildenstein; Trainer: Elie Lellouche FR; Jockey-Gerald Mosse; SP-13/2
3RD-Darasim 6-9-02 Owner-Markus Graff; Trainer-Mark Johnston; Jockey-Joe Fanning; SP-28/1
13 ran, Time-4m 20.90s, Dist-1½, 2½ 5/4 Fav Mr Dinos (6th)

2003-WINNER-MR DINOS 4-9-00 Owner-Constantinos Shiacolas; Trainer-Paul Cole; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-3/1
2ND-Persian Punch 10-9-02 Owner-Jeff Smith; Trainer-David Elsworth; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-20/1
3RD-Pole Star 5-9-02 Owner-D I Russell; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Pat Eddery; SP-12/1
12 ran, Time: 4m 20.15s, Dist-6, ¾ 5/2 Fav Mamool (5th)

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