Rain fails to dampen the spirits as Stradivarius lights up Ascot

Gold Cup hat-trick achieved with ultimate ease.

Stradivarius bestrode Royal Ascot on Thursday with a historic Gold Cup masterclass.

His charismatic jockey Frankie Dettori, of course, more than did his bit – and others were richly deserving of mention in dispatches elsewhere on a thrilling third day of the famous meeting.

But it was always supposed to be all about top of the bill Stradivarius, and so it proved as John Gosden’s brilliant six-year-old utterly outclassed his opponents en route to a 10-length tour de force which put him alongside Yeats and Sagaro as one of only three horses ever to complete a hat-trick of successive Gold Cup victories.

It is easy to envisage Stradivarius returning in 12 months’ time to try to emulate the record-holder Yeats as a four-time winner, such was his supremacy.

The folly, though, would be to do anything other than savour the moment as Stradivarius silenced doubts sown by rain-softened ground we were told could scupper him – and put yawning daylight between himself and the rest.

They were headed by long-time leader and admirable runner-up Nayef Road, two years younger and still improving yet in a different, lesser league to the winner.

Others are worthy of congratulation on their efforts and achievements before and after Stradivarius assumed centre stage – notably father-and-son trainers Paul and Oliver Cole as the first to win a Royal Ascot race as dual licence holders when Highland Chief struck in the opening Golden Gates Handicap, and then to close the card an uncanny and improbable second Sandringham Stakes victory in successive years for jockey Hayley Turner and trainer Charlie Fellowes, this time with Onassis at 33-1.

Elsewhere, Jim Crowley continued his unexpected domination as the meeting’s leading jockey – with two more winners to increase his and owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Ascot tally to six in three days – while trainer Roger Varian’s treble took him up to four.

Remarkable feats were hardly in short supply – but there was none to rival the virtuoso Stradivarius.

Picture of the day

Splendid isolation for Stradivarius and Dettori as they coast past the line for their Gold Cup hat-trick
Splendid isolation for Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori as they coast past the line for their Gold Cup hat-trick (Edward Whitaker)

Quote of the day

Performance of the day

Royal Ascot – Day Three
It had to be – Frankie Dettori celebrates as he knows best, after he and Stradivarius make history (Julian Finney/PA)

This category is the original one-horse race – Stradivarius was utterly peerless en route to his Gold Cup hat-trick. No crowd, non-stop rain … no problem. Gosden’s superstar was a class apart, and has put himself in elite and historic company. It is a moot point perhaps whether the absent Kew Gardens might have pushed him a little closer – but on the compelling evidence of his historic romp, whatever the conditions, there is a chasm between him and the rest in this race.

Winning teams

Royal Ascot – Day Three
Khaloosy provided Jim Crowley and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum with their sixth winner of the meeting – with the small matter of two days still to go (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

The Coles, as well as Turner and Fellowes, both put in bold bids with their victories which bookended the card. But no one is close to Crowley and owner Sheikh Hamdan for this accolade. Varian lent them a decent hand on day three as well as two of his three winners on the card came for the retained rider in his blue and white silks. Khaloosy, especially, looked a star in the making – and certainly not a handicapper – as he outclassed his Britannia Stakes opponents.

What’s next?

Dubai Duty Free International Saturday – Newbury Racecourse
Pierre Lapin (left) is unbeaten in just two career starts (Julian Herbert/PA)

Varian could well be in business again in Friday’s feature Group One, courtesy of his lightly-raced but highly talented Commonwealth Cup contender Pierre Lapin. The Newmarket trainer has cautioned that inexperience may be an issue at this level – but there is no doubting he rates his young sprinter very highly.

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.

Latest