John Gosden | Horse Racing Free Tips

Stradivarius Chasing Fourth Gold Cup Victory At Royal Ascot

Stradivarius headlines 15 remaining contenders for the G1 Gold Cup, the centerpiece of Royal Ascot on Thursday, June 17.

The hugely popular three-time winner has the chance to emulate Yeats, who recorded four consecutive Gold Cup victories between 2006 and 2009.

Now a 7-year-old, Stradivarius returned this season with an impressive victory in the G3 Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in April.

Bjorn Nielsen's homebred, who is trained by John & Thady Gosden, is aiming for a fifth consecutive victory at Royal Ascot, with his first success at the meeting coming in the 2017 G2 Queen's Vase.

Speaking today at a media call presented by QIPCO British Champions Series on behalf of Ascot Racecourse, John Gosden said: “It would be extraordinary from the point of view that Stradivarius is still a full horse. He is not a gelding, and the geldings often race on a lot longer because they are not dealing with the distractions of life!

“This boy is very vociferous and an absolute riot to be around. He has always been very entertaining and has a great personality. I just tend to let him enjoy himself and, as long as he is enjoying himself, that's all that matters.

“He likes to be first out in the mornings and when he sees other strings, he shouts and roars. He seems to particularly like the blue of Godolphin, which causes him to shout even more. Then he comes back, eats his grub, and goes to sleep. He can see all the horses going in and out, so he checks everything. I think if you had to take a world tour with him, there is quite a likelihood in the end that you would say 'look, can you just shut up for a second!'. But that's his nature, he is just an incredibly fun horse to be around.

“He is like part of the family now and when his owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen comes to stay, he can look out of the guest room window and see Stradivarius saying hello to him. Full marks to Bjorn because he has bred this horse and raced him in the most sporting manner. I have nothing but respect for him to do that. He tried to breed a Derby horse and wound up with a wonderful cup horse.

“Stradivarius has won four Goodwood Cups, as well as Yorkshire Cups, Doncaster Cups, Lonsdale Cups. They put up the £1 million bonus two years running, thinking nobody would do it, and he knocked it off both years and finished the insurance company off. He has been remarkable. I think the toughest race of his life was actually his first Gold Cup against the great French stayer Vazirabad.

“He seems to love his training still and likes his racing. He can be very naughtily behaved beforehand and think he's in the covering shed, but when it comes to the race, he gets down to the start and says 'right, there's a job to do, lets go'.

“He worked on the July Course last Tuesday and, touch wood, we are ready to go again. Frankie [Dettori] gave him a little canter this morning in front of the TV cameras and that all went smoothly.

“I have a lot of respect for the new boy on the block Subjectivist. And I have a lot of respect for Alan King's horse Trueshan if he runs, although he may prefer a downpour. But there is no doubt Subjectivist adds a lot of spice to the race.”

The 2020 Derby hero Serpentine is a fascinating contender for Aidan O'Brien having been supplemented at a cost of £30,000.

Serpentine is set to become the first Derby winner to run in the Gold Cup since Blakeney in 1970. Ocean Swell in 1945 is the last Derby winner to win the Gold Cup.

O'Brien's hand is strengthened further by 2020 G1 Irish Derby victor Santiago and Amhrann Na Bhfiann, who finished third behind Serpentine in the Derby.

Mark Johnston is doubly represented by last year's Gold Cup second Nayef Road and Subjectivist, who routed the opposition in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup in March.

A strong line up also features Trueshan (Alan King), a dominant winner of the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October, G1 Melbourne Cup victor Twilight Payment (Joseph O'Brien) and last month's G2 Yorkshire Cup scorer Spanish Mission (Andrew Balding).

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Prize Money For British Champions Day Boosted By 60 Percent

Prize money for this year's QIPCO British Champions Day will be £4 million (US$4.88 million), cementing its position as the richest raceday in the British calendar. The QIPCO Champion Stakes is set to be the richest race in the UK this year with £1.2 million (US$1.47 milion) in prize money. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) will also run for in excess of £1 million (US$1.22 million). The three remaining pattern races on the card each will offer a prize fund of £500,000 (US$610,000). In all, prize money across the card will increase by 60 percent on 2020 levels, which were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Champion Trainer John Gosden said: “We are very grateful to QIPCO and British Champions Series for putting up such a valuable raceday. It is so important for British racing that there is internationally competitive prize money on offer for owners who are the bedrock of our sport. Champions Day has quickly become one of the most important racedays in the global racing calendar and with such generous prize money, I am sure that it will continue to thrive.”

Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Thani, director of QIPCO Holding said: “We are proud to sponsor QIPCO British Champions Day, the most valuable day in the British racing calendar and are pleased that this year's raceday, which marks the tenth anniversary of our sponsorship, will be run for £4 million. The day has established itself at the pinnacle of the global racing calendar and it is only fitting that the prize money reflect that.”

Richard Hannon, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) with King of Change in 2019 said, “You always want to have runners on QIPCO British Champions Day and it'll be even more important this year with such fantastic prize money on offer. All credit to QIPCO and the team for making it happen – it's a real boost for everyone in the game.”

This year's QIPCO British Champions Day takes place on Saturday Oct. 16 at Ascot Racecourse, and marks the 10th Anniversary of QIPCO's sponsorship of the event and the wider QIPCO British Champions Series.

QIPCO British Champions Day Prize Money 2020 vs 2021

2020 2021 % difference
QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) £300,000 £500,000 +67%
QIPCO British Champions Sprint (Group 1) £350,000 £500,000 +43%
QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares (Group 1) £350,000 £500,000 +43%
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (Group 1) £650,000 £1,100,000 +69%
QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1) £750,000 £1,200,000 +60%
Balmoral Handicap (sponsored by QIPCO) £100,000 £200,000 +100%

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BHA Forms Whip Consultation Steering Group

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has assembled a 15-strong Whip Consultation Steering Group ahead of the forthcoming consultation regarding the use of the foam-padded whip in British racing.

The group, which is chaired by BHA independent regulatory non-executive director David Jones, is comprised of a range of industry participants, vets and politicians, including champion trainer John Gosden and jockey PJ McDonald, as well as Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare.

As part of the independent Horse Welfare Board's strategic plan, A life well lived – a new strategic plan for the welfare of horses bred for racing 2020-2024, a recommendation was made that a public consultation should be conducted by the BHA regarding the use of the whip in British racing. The newly-formed steering group will be integral to this process and, following consultation, will make recommendations to help determine the outcome.

“It is essential that the consultation process is fair, open and transparent and the views of all parties are considered,” said David Jones. “In addition, any decisions must be made by those who have a deep understanding and knowledge of the subject matter and who are willing to both represent and consider a range of perspectives. The role of the Steering Group will be to ensure that all of these requirements are met. The breadth of expertise and experience that has come together to form this group is truly impressive.”

Brant Dunshea, the BHA's chief regulatory officer, added,”The whips  used in British racing are foam-padded and were designed  with input from  the RSPCA.  Its use in races is subject to strict controls.

“The Horse Welfare Board were clear, however, that the use of the whip is an issue of public trust in the sport, and that the  racing  industry must be mindful of public opinion if it is to safeguard its long-term future.

“By carrying out this consultation we are looking to facilitate a positive, open debate about an important issue. Any decisions will be for racing to make, and the Steering Group's expertise from across the racing industry – alongside the perspectives of representatives of other independent sectors – will play a leading part in this process.”

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Havlin Decides Against Appeal

Jockey Rab Havlin has decided he will not appeal the decision by Lingfield stewards to suspend him 21 days for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to win a race on Apr. 21. Havlin was riding the John and Thady Gosden-trained Stowell (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) when the 3-year-old made a late move on debut but just failed to catch his stablemate Polling Day (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), ridden by Frankie Dettori. Stowell was beaten a head under a hands and heels ride.

Gosden spoke out in support of Havlin, saying he always asks jockeys to avoid using the whip on newcomers.

Havlin said after riding Side Shot (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to win at Doncaster on Friday, “There were a few avenues we could go down. I spoke to Rory [Mac Neice, solicitor] and we discussed it, but I just didn't want it to drag on into next week. I wanted to draw a line under it and just move on. That's racing, my lad wasn't going much quicker in the straight and Frankie's was and was ridden out. I just thought it was the best thing to do [not appeal], put a line under it and walk on.

“I'll take some time off. I haven't had a day off in 18 months, so I'll take some time off and spend it with the kids.”

Gosden, speaking from Sandown, also addressed the news this week that his apprentice Benoit de la Sayette has had his license suspended after testing positive for cocaine, having previously denied using the.

“This is a problem in every town, village and city up and down the country,” said Gosden. “The teenagers have been in lockdown for a year, they are bored stiff and can't even go and play football with their friends in the park. They are looking for another stimulant. You don't have to be Einstein to see alcohol sales have gone through the roof, people are drinking more because they are bored looking at the walls. These kids are no different, to that extent they need all the support they can get, and a firm talking to.

“You could probably go into Esher now and find some cocaine in a beer garden. But remember it also suppresses appetite, if you are a jockey wasting. If you drink alcohol you've got sugar and carbohydrates that go with that so it's another way of having a good time. But it's illegal and it's got to be stamped out.”

“Urine samples are one thing, but hair samples are another. He was messing around with it at the beginning of the year and he's paid a mighty price. I see no harm in doing more testing, it's an obvious place to go.”

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