Stradivarius | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rematch? Both Subjectivist, Stradivarius On Target For Goodwood Cup

Gold Cup hero Subjectivist and four-time Goodwood Cup winner Stradivarius are on course for an eagerly awaited rematch in the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (27 entries) on Tuesday, July 27.

Entries were revealed Wednesday for seven races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival, including the two-mile highlight and the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes.

The Qatar Goodwood Festival runs from Tuesday, July 27 to Saturday, July 31, with the first three days forming part of the Tote World Pool series.

All eyes were on the John & Thady Gosden-trained Stradivarius at Royal Ascot as he attempted to emulate Yeats' record of four Gold Cups, but it was Subjectivist who powered to an emphatic five-length victory as Stradivarius met trouble in running to finish fourth.

Mark Johnston's stable star is building quite a CV, with last week's success coming on the back of equally dominant victories in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp in October and the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, UAE, in March.

Johnston has sent out five winners of the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, including Double Trigger, who captured the race three times between 1995 and 1998 – a feat surpassed by Stradivarius last year.

Johnston said: “Subjectivist has had a very easy time of it since his run in the Gold Cup. He will have a gradual return back to full work, with the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup being the next target.

“Looking back at the Gold Cup, it was a very exciting performance. Whichever way you look at it, whether it be the form, the time, the sectional times, the distance he won by, it all points to it being an absolutely top-draw performance.

“In fairness, his win before that in Dubai was very good, but I suppose everybody is generally slightly sceptical of the Dubai form. But at Ascot he has confirmed it by running a very similar race in terms of style. I don't think there are any doubts about the horse now.

“It is well-documented that I love the stayers, and it means a huge amount to me personally to have a horse like this. With horses who run in these big two-mile plus races, the big concern is can you keep them sound, but barring any injuries or problems, he is an extremely exciting horse to have.”

Regarding a rematch with Stradivarius, Johnston added: “I think if you read my blog, you will see that I said, 'Subjectivist was bred by Susan Hearn, Barry Hearn's wife, and if this was another sport, Barry Hearn would be promoting the rematch and we'd all be making a lot of money out of it!' But seriously, a big clash between these two horses at Goodwood will be very good for racing.”

Stradivarius has made the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup his own since landing the spoils for the first time as a three-year-old in 2017. Bjorn Nielsen's homebred is chasing an unprecedented fifth straight victory, a feat unlikely to be repeated in a race that dates back to 1812.

Other high-profile entries include G2 Yorkshire Cup victor Spanish Mission (Andrew Balding), who was third behind Subjectivist at Royal Ascot, and 2019 St Leger victor Logician (John & Thady Gosden).

Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien has three entries, including Melbourne Cup victor Twilight Payment and prolific G2 Belmont Gold Cup winner Baron Samedi.

The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup is part of the British Champions Series.

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Subjectivist Dominates Gold Cup; Stradivarius Hit Traffic, Settled For Fourth

Subjectivist gave a display of staying brilliance for Joe Fanning and Mark Johnston in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup, one of the crown jewels of Royal Ascot.

Run over the marathon trip of two and a half miles, many expected three-time winner and 5/6 favourite Stradivarius to strike again, but it was the four-year-old Subjectivist who took the honors as Fanning set sail for home entering the straight and never looked like being caught.

Princess Zoe outran her odds of 28/1 to take second place for Irish trainer Tony Mullins, fully five lengths behind the impressive winner. Spanish Mission (7/1) was a further half-length back in third.

Stradivarius briefly met trouble in running on the home bend and could never land a blow under Frankie Dettori, ultimately finishing fourth.

This was a fourth Gold Cup success for Mark Johnston, following Royal Rebel (2001 & 2002) and Double Trigger (1995), and a 47th Royal Ascot win in total for the Middleham handler.

Johnston said: “We thought in the wintertime that Subjectivist was so much on the up. He won in France last season on heavy ground and people were thinking he needed heavy ground to excel. But then he went onto Dubai and that was the big question mark, could he go on fast ground? That was the performance of his life and I couldn't be confident coming here that he could replicate it after such a long time off and a big gap in between. I knew if he could reproduce that, he would take an awful lot of beating.

“I was really happy throughout the race. We never tell the jockey to lead, we just say to go the pace that suits our horse and Joe is the master at it. When he is sitting second like that, settled and relaxed with a horse giving him a beautiful lead in front, I thought it was perfect.

“With half a mile to go, I knew we were going into new territory, but he hadn't asked for any effort yet. He had a beautiful ride round and we knew how he could finish from Dubai, and he did that again.

“I thought he was the best horse we've taken Stradivarius on with, but we had a scare just after the Dubai race, so he's missed quite a bit of work after that. The preparations have not been smooth in that 45 minutes after his run in Dubai, he was filling in one leg and we thought that would be serious. When he came home from Dubai, he had scans at Newmarket, so he had lots of time off. Then in Middleham last week, he skinned both knees and one hock. The only positive was that Attraction did a similar thing before winning the Queen Mary and that didn't stop her either.

“We'll look at the Goodwood Cup. It is the obvious next race, then we'll have an eye on the wintertime. We can't ignore the money on offer in Dubai and Saudi. If the horse is well after this, we should work the horse back from this race next year.”

On Fanning, Johnston added: “I think that's his third Group One, so he's not new to this entirely, but it's waited until the sort of twilight of his career and he deserved it long ago. You really see him at his best there.

“Everybody talks about Steve Cauthen as a great front running jockey, and I always put Jason Weaver up in the same sort of league, although he wasn't around for so long, but I don't think there's anybody better than Joe Fanning. He is absolutely perfect at setting the pace. People kept saying is he going to lead today, is he not going to lead today? However many thousands of runners Joe's had for us, we never tell him where he's got to be in the field, and it was just a perfect pace all the way around.”

Fanning said: “Subjectivist has been a great horse this year, even last year, he just keeps improving.

“In Dubai on that good ground, he was always doing his best work near the end, so I never felt that was an issue or ground as well, he'll go on any ground. I just find he's a horse you don't complicate things with; if there's something in front, let him go. He is a little bit keen, but every race he's been getting better, more relaxed, and I said to Mark [Johnston], we are better off jumping and letting him do everything. If there is no pace then let him stride on; if there is pace, then just [leave him] wherever he settles.

“It was a steady pace, but he was relaxed, which was the main thing. In Dubai the race collapsed in front and I took it up, and I thought six down he was starting to push a bit in front, but I was never going to take him back. It was always the plan that if he wanted to roll on, let him roll on. Five out and before the home bend, I was able to get breathers into him to fill him up, and I thought it would take a very good one to get by him.

“Mark is a great man to ride for. Charlie is there now and the staff have been there for years – it's a great team. I went to Mark after my apprenticeship, I think my first winner was for him in about 1991, and I went full-time in 1995. A few years ago! It's great for the yard and Dr Jim [Walker], who has been a brilliant owner with us for years.

“It was nice to get such a reception from the other jockeys when I came in – they are a great bunch of lads. It's great to be here in a big race with the crowd back.”

Winning owner Dr Jim Walker said: “It's nice to be in the winning enclosure at Ascot for once!

“It was almost a re-run of the Dubai Gold Cup. I just thought at that point Joe had him, and it was going to be everything else that was going to have to try and catch him – and that's hard.”

Explaining what it means to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, he added: “It's the pinnacle, because this is my division – staying – same as Mark, so it's fantastic.”

Jockey Joey Sheridan said of the second: “Princess Zoe was brilliant. I am delighted for Tony [Mullins] and all of the team. I am over the moon.

“People were probably doubting her after her last run saying she had a lot to prove, but we know how good she is. All she needs is cut in the ground. I think the better horse beat us today, but on softer ground you don't know what could happen.

“To ride in a Gold Cup is unbelievable. It is incredible to be riding in situations like this.”

Tony Mullins said: “Around a furlong down, I just thought for a second… I was so excited, but we're over the moon with the run we had, because I believe this [Subjectivist] is the new Stradivarius, and unfortunately we met him. He beat us in France and he beat us here, so we'll have to think of something new to try to beat him. He's going to be a great champion.

“The Prix du Cadran is always the one in our head, maybe now we'll look at the Irish St Leger or a staying race in France, because it's doubtful the Goodwood Cup or the Doncaster Cup are going to have cut in the ground. She didn't have it here, but the longevity of her legs won't stick this ground all the time. Paddy [Kehoe, owner] still has aspirations of going to Cheltenham, and I'm not discounting it if he wants to go. It's on our agenda, but for the moment the Prix du Cadran is the one.”

Spanish Mission's rider William Buick said: “It was a great run. That trip probably stretches him. The last furlong was a long one, and the winner won very well. Credit to the winner, but Spanish Mission gave me a great ride.”

John Gosden said of Stradivarius: “It didn't work out exactly. The winner was most impressive. We were an awful long way back and then we had Princess Zoe behind us. We were just caught too far back. Frankie couldn't get out when he wanted to. You need these races to go right, it didn't exactly go to plan in running, but full marks to the winner, I thought he was mightily impressive.”

Dettori said: “I ran into a pocket turning for home. When you get stopped in a two-and-half-mile race, you never get going again. The winner's a good winner, but I'd love to have had another shot at it.”

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Stradivarius Poised For Historic Feat

It's Thursday at Royal Ascot, which can only mean that it's time for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with the Gosden titan now bidding for a record-equalling fourth renewal of the G1 Gold Cup. As Yeats (Ire) did before him, Bjorn Nielsen's stayer supreme just keeps coming back to deal with the latest set of opponents looking to stretch him. In his inaugural triumph in 2018, it was the French doyen Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) who felt his breeze as Frankie's favourite winning post loomed, while a year later it was Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}) who tasted the same medicine. Last season, in front of the vacant stands, the chestnut had no meaningful competition and duly opened up to put on a rare show with a 10-length success despite the soft ground. Never at his best when there is cut underfoot, he glided through the “summer soft” as Gosden Sr termed it at the Royal meeting but when it got testing in the autumn it found him out and he went into winter quarters having beaten only one of his 13 rivals in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. If the expected thunderstorm misses or fails to deliver the quantities of rain forecast and it stays good-to-firm, as it was when he won the G3 Sagaro S. on his return here Apr. 28, there may be little hope for the rest so it is in the lap of the gods now.

“He worked on the July Course last week and I was very happy with him,” John Gosden said. “Touch wood, we're ready to go again. He has been remarkable. His win in the Sagaro was tidy, pleasant, and Frankie didn't ask him too much so let's hope he's ready for the big one again. I fear one thing for Stradivarius–thunderstorms–because he has this wonderful turn of foot after two and a half miles but the wet ground, soft ground, blunts it, so we'll see how we go.”

When it was deep ground on Champions Day, it was Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) who excelled with a 7 1/2-length romp in the Long Distance Cup as Stradivarius floundered. While that was a marked upgrade on his previous form, the Alan King-trained 5-year-old had previously hinted that he was at least not out of place in that line-up. Proving it was no fluke when 3/4-of-a-length second to Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) attempting to give that rival five pounds in the G3 Ormonde S. over an extended 13 furlongs at Chester May 6, he will not run if the rain fails to arrive in sufficient quantities to ease the current quick conditions. “I was extremely happy at Chester–it was a great performance giving weight to a Group 1 winner,” jockey Hollie Doyle said. “He's come out of that very well apparently and a bit of ease in the ground would be lovely.” Alan King added, “He's been declared, but we are very reliant on thunderstorms hitting Ascot. He's in great nick and I couldn't be happier with him, but if it doesn't rain he doesn't run. It will have to go to good, or good-to-soft.”

Mark Johnston likes to have a go at the reigning champion and tries again with the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who came back this year just as strong when winning the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan Mar. 27. Back in fifth on that occasion was Team Valor Llc and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}), who has since beaten Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) in the G2 Yorkshire Cup over 14 furlongs May 14. “He did have an injury in that Dubai race,” Johnston said. “It's taken him a little while to come back from that and as a result we haven't had any race in between. I think this is the best horse I've gone to war with Stradivarius with. We know what a tall order that is–we've finished second to him so many times before. I won't be looking at tactics to beat Stradivarius, we've just got to hope that we've got the best horse on the day.”

Santiago is one of a trio from Ballydoyle and is reunited with Seamie Heffernan for the first time since winning last year's G1 Irish Derby. Relishing the soft ground when successful in the G2 Queen's Vase at this meeting 12 months ago, he will be interesting going over this marathon trip along with his G1 Epsom Derby-winning stablemate Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Supplemented last week, the latter is a rare blue riband winner tackling this prestige event and adds another dimension. “Obviously we won't know if Serpentine stays the trip until he runs over it, but we always thought he'd stay further than a mile and a half,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He seems to be in good form at home, he's had a run this season and we're hoping he'll run well. Santiago is in good form and this has always been the plan for him. He's had his two runs already this season and we've been happy with him since his last run at York.”

Andrew Balding said of Spanish Mission, “I thought it was a really good effort at York, but he faces some mighty opponents here in the likes of Stradivarius, Subjectivist, and Santiago, not to mention Serpentine, who I wasn't expecting. It's a really intriguing race, as a Gold Cup should be, but Spanish Mission is in great form. It's another two furlongs further than the Doncaster Cup, which he won last year, but I'd be hopeful that he'll stay.”

Ward Looks To Get Off The Mark

The day's action starts with the five-furlong G2 Norfolk S. for the 2-year-olds, where Wesley Ward and John Velazquez combine with the May 9 Belmont Park maiden special weight winner Lucci (Not This Time) who races for Andrew Farm, Forthepeople Racing Stable and Windmill Manor. Velazquez is hoping he will be able to cope with the ground if the forecast rain arrives. “He won very nicely on the grass in New York. It seems like we're probably going to get a little bit of rain tomorrow and hopefully he can handle that,” he said. Ward, who also saddles the Apr. 14 Keeneland maiden special weight winner Nakatomi (Firing Line) who races in the Qatar Racing silks, is still looking for his first winner of the week and said of his duo, “At home, we have been working Lucci and Nakatomi together. Nakatomi was coming out on top, but then they had a workout in Newmarket on the Limekilns and Lucci turned the tables. He just bounced straight through to the front and would not give up the lead.”

If it does go soft, that will count against Ballydoyle's Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) who has been withdrawn several times both before and after his impressive win over this trip on Dundalk's Polytrack Apr. 10. “This horse has missed a lot of potential engagements since winning on his debut at Dundalk in April and I really hope that the rain that is forecast from Wednesday night all through Thursday is not as bad as some are suggesting,” Ryan Moore said. “This is a colt we like and he really impressed me when beating a fair sort in Silver Surfer at Dundalk. He has a lot of class and speed and I expect him to go well.” Bond Thoroughbred's Project Dante (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) proved on his winning debut at York May 12 that he handles good-to-soft and his defeat of the re-opposing Korker (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) looks better now that the runner-up has won at Carlisle May 28.

Stars On The Rise

In the G2 Ribblesdale S., Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) bids to go one better than her half-sister Mori (GB) who went under by a neck to Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in this four years ago. At the time of her 3 3/4-length second to Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G3 Musidora S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York May 12, there was an air of disappointment but subsequent events have since proven that to be highly respectable. In front of the subsequent G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) there, the daughter of Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) comes into this fresh after a late setback ruled her out of the Epsom Classic.

Aidan O'Brien saddles Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran third in the Oaks and who as a daughter of Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab) has limitless potential. Ryan Moore said of her, “Aidan was expecting an improved performance from her at Epsom and she duly delivered it, again not having the best of passages but sticking on really well to be third. I know she was beaten a long way and she probably has something to find with the likes of Noon Star, a filly I have a lot of time for, but any rain won't bother her and she has a fair shot at this.” The Gosden stable has won three of the last four renewals and seems best-represented by Bjorn Nielsen's Gloria Mundi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was a neck second to Shadwell's Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in Newbury's Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. over 10 furlongs May 15.

William Haggas will be hoping the rain fails to materialise for another Shadwell jewel in Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who was forced to miss the G1 Epsom Derby when the storms hit Surrey and who heads the cast for the 10-furlong G3 Hampton Court S. Provided the ground stays at least good, his five-length defeat of the re-opposing Secret Protector (War Front) in the May 1 Listed Newmarket S. over this trip should be enough to see the famed silks back in the winner's enclosure at this meeting. William Haggas is again looking at his best plans being waylaid by the changeable weather and said, “He looks absolutely fantastic, he's ready to go. He obviously doesn't want much rain but he'll run, I promised Sheikha Hissa he'd run at Ascot regardless. It's just the way it is, it's typical. Everything has been good with him, he's in great form and he really is a lovely horse, we just won't see him at his best on soft ground but that's the way it is. He'll still run a good race, he's very well.”

If Mohaafeth underperforms, the answer could be One Ruler who did run in the Derby won by his stablemate Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Godolphin's G3 Autumn S. winner and G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up is back quickly after Epsom, in which he was a well-beaten sixth having looked unhappy on the track. Also sixth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 1, he will be at home if it rains and Charlie Appleby has now won the G2 Dante S. and G2 Queen's Vase alongside the Derby. “One Ruler has come out of the Derby in good shape and will appreciate the drop back to a mile and a quarter, together with any ease in the going,” he said. “We are confident that he can be very competitive under a [four-pound] penalty.” Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Movin Time (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) comes here with abundant potential, having beaten Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase winner Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by four lengths in a 10-furlong Newmarket maiden May 13 and Roger Varian has a useful bunch of 3-year-old colts to measure him against.

Varian also supplies a live contender for the Britannia H. over a mile in Amo Racing's Raadobarg (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who is looking for a fourth consecutive win, while Aidan O'Brien has opted to run the one-time Derby contender Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) under top weight in the 12-furlong King George V H. The latter looks a particularly strong renewal, but Ballydoyle ran Constantinople (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to be second two years ago giving weight away to all rivals. He went on to place in the G2 Great Voltigeur and G3 Gordon S. and it is easy to imagine Sir Lamorak treading the same path. “He also doesn't want much rain, but I think he has a big run in him if the ground remains decent,” Ryan Moore said. “He may be 15 pounds higher than when winning for me at Leopardstown back in April, but you had to be very impressed by what he did that day and I think he is a good colt and hopefully one better than his current mark of 100.”

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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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