Yahoo Finance Ascot Gold Cup: Stradivarius can make it four wins in a row, says John Gosden
John Gosden is confident Stradivarius can mark his name in Royal Ascot history with a fourth-straight Gold Cup victory.
The Frankie Dettori-ridden stallion is bidding to emulate the feat achieved by Yeats in the same race back in 2009.
Fears that overnight rain – 2.4mm fell at the Berkshire course – might derail his ambitions have been allayed with the ground good to firm.
And Gosden said: “I’m very happy with him. He seems to love his training still, he seems to love his racing. Touch wood, we’re ready to go again.
“He can be very naughtily behaved beforehand but when it comes to the race and he gets down to the start, he can look at a mare and think ‘ok, I’ve a job to do.”
As for what’s next after today’s race at 4.15pm, he added: “I’d like to get through this before deciding what next. I know where his owner [Bjorn Nielsen] would like to run but there’s nothing wrong with five Goodwood Cups is there!”
Gosden said he expected the biggest challenges to come from Subjectivist and Trueshan, and for Subjectivist trainer Mark Johnston there is hope he can finally get the better of Gosden and Stradivarius after a series of attemps.
“I think this is the best horse I’ve gone to war with Stradivarius with,” he said. “We know what a tall order that is – we’ve finished second to him so many times before.”
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