One of the biggest and most enduring names in modern flat racing, STRADIVARIUS returns for a fifth crack at the Goodwood Cup. Victorious in all four renewals he had raced in, Bjorn Nielsen’s star stayer is the most successful horse in the history of the race.
We have delved into his history and affinity with the Goodwood Cup below, alongside a preview of his chances of claiming an unprecedented fifth Goodwood Cup.
2017 Goodwood Cup – Result: 1st 6/1
After losing his first two races in his career, Stradivarius then won three of his next four races, only going down by half a length at Chester.
He followed that defeat by stepping up in trip and landing a first Royal Ascot victory, running out a narrow winner of the Queen’s Vase.
Next up, a tilt at a first Group 1 in the Goodwood Cup. Strad was sent off a 6/1 shot to gain his first Group 1, and he did so impressively!
Always towards the rear of the mid-division, he gradually picked off the runners before making nice headway when asked for his effort. He was leading in the final furlong and stayed on strongly to win comfortably ahead of 2015 + 2016 Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange.
2018 Goodwood Cup – Result: 1st 4/5
After his 2017 Goodwood Cup victory, Stradivarius suffered back-to-back defeats in the St Leger and the Long Distance Cup. They were his last races of the season and was given an almost seven month break before his next race.
His 2018 season began with a resounding victory in the Yorkshire Cup, before a second Group 1 victory – this time in the Ascot Gold Cup.
He came into the 2018 Goodwood Cup with high hopes of winning back-to-back wins in the race, and duly obliged. He may not have won as comfortably as he did in 2017, with Torcedor giving him a serious challenge towards the run-in, but John Gosden’s star stayed on strongly and never really looked in doubt of bagging his second Goodwood Cup.
2019 Goodwood Cup – Result: 1st 4/5
Since that defeat in the Long Distance Cup back in October 2017, Stradivarius all seven race in the build up for his hat-trick bid in the Goodwood Cup. That run included an impressive three Group 1 victories, including becoming a two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner.
Confidence was high ahead of the 2019 Goodwood Cup, and it was a typical Stradivarius performance. Held up in midfield, he slowly creeped closer before making his effort three furlongs out, before leading in the final furlong. He was soon well in command, and although the official winning distance was only a neck, Frankie Dettori was already celebrating his victory before passing the post.
That win equalled the record of Double Trigger, who was the only other horse to win three Goodwood Cups. He was becoming one of the greatest staying stars in racing, and better was still to come!
2020 Goodwood Cup – Result: 1st 4/7
Stradivarius’ ten-race unbeaten run was brought to an end by Kew Gardens at the end of 2019, going down by a nose in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
He started 2020 dropping down in trip for the Coronation Cup, and struggled with the pace of Ghaiyyath and eventually finishing third. After losing two races in a row, Stradivarius started looking vulnerable and needed a big performance to boost confidence – thankfully he did exactly that!
He landed his third successive Gold Cup with an exceptional performance, finishing an impressive TEN lengths clear of the field, with Nayef Road chasing him home in second. He was eased down towards the finish, so that winning distance could’ve been even bigger. It was safe to say Stradivarius was back in business.
He went off as odds-on favourite for a third successive year in the Goodwood Cup at 4/7, and Frankie gave him the same ride that had worked for him so well in previous renewals. However, when usually making his run three furlongs out, he found himself short of room and had to wait. Once in the clear, he flew home to catch Nayef road and claim an unprecedented fourth successive Goodwood Cup, becoming the most successful horse in the race’s history in the process.
2021 Goodwood Cup – Result: N/A
Trueshan won the 2021 renewal, but Stradivarius was unable to get the chance to challenge for a fifth successive Goodwood Cup, with trainer John Gosden withdrawing him from the race due to the ground.
Gosden said “We made the mistake of running him on the wrong ground at Longchamp and Ascot. There’s no point making that mistake again. We’ll now point him towards York next month.”
2022 Goodwood Cup – Result: ?
Following his 2021 Goodwood Cup withdrawal, Stradivarius was sent to York and duly won the Lonsdale Cup, before following that with victory in the Doncaster Cup a month later. His final two runs of the year finished in disappointment, as he failed to win at Longchamp and again in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
He reappeared in 2022 with a timely victory in the Yorkshire Cup, before a disappointing third in the Ascot Gold Cup. Frankie again had him boxed in when trying to make his run, and owner Bjorn Nielsen has decided to switch jockeys and replaced Frankie with Andrea Atzeni for the 2022 Goodwood Cup.
He faces some big rivals, including Gold Cup winner Kyprios, but if Atzeni gives him a better ride, he could raise the roof at Goodwood if he makes it a fifth win in the race.
He has a 100% record at the course, winning all four Goodwood Cup’s he’s raced in, and the star stayer will undoubtedly be thereabouts at the finish. The question is, will he reverse form with Kyprios?
Time will tell!