Stradivarius a millionaire again as star stayer proves too good in Lonsdale Cup
Star stayer Stradivarius became a millionaire all over again when he landed the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday in a course-record time.
Trained by John Gosden for breeder Bjorn Nielsen and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Stradivarius was expected to score and got the job done at odds of 4-9, dismissing Dee Ex Bee and Il Paradiso.
The success means the classy five-year-old scoops insurance broker Weatherbys Hamilton’s £1 million bonus for the second year running.
In a bid to boost and maintain the staying division, organisers introduced the idea last year, offering the healthy sum for any horse who wins a spring qualifying race and then goes on to land the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup.
Just as he did last year, Stradivarius began his money-making campaign began at York in May in the Yorkshire Cup before convincing victories at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.
With another million in reach, he made no mistake on the Knavesmire – much to the delight of connections.
Dettori, winning his sixth Lonsdale Cup, said: “Dee Ex Bee was the one I had to beat, but I know Stradivarius has a tremendous turn of foot, so I waited and waited.
“Then, Wayne Lordan was going better on Il Paradiso so I got on his heels and waited until the final furlong. I asked and Stradivarius went whoosh.
“He gets a length in front and thinks the job’s done. People get attached to horses like him, you’ll always get a fight and this horse is special.”
An emotional Nielsen concurred, adding: “Of course we’ll have a celebration tonight; It’ll be pretty good. It’s a privilege to own him and he’s a special horse.”
The son of Sea The Stars is entered in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot on October 19, but Gosden said he would leave plans to Nielsen.
Record-breaking Battaash banishes York hoodoo in style in Nunthorpe Stakes
Battaash laid his York hoodoo to rest when bolting up in Friday’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at the Ebor festival.
Fourth when well fancied for the race in the last two years, the Charlie Hills-trained Battaash is hard to beat on his A game and that is what he produced, quickening clear more than a furlong from home to thrash his rivals and break Dayjur’s course record that had stood for 29 years.
Soldier’s Call was second with So Perfect third, while 13-8 market leader Ten Sovereigns, the July Cup winner, could not make an impact and was sixth.
Sent off the 7-4 second favourite, Battaash broke well and tracked Ornate. The five-year-old looked to be going nicely for Jim Crowley, who got an immediate response from his mount.
The winner shot clear and never looked like getting caught, earning a quote of 4-5 from Paddy Power for the Prix de l’Abbaye, which he won two years ago.
Betfair make him 10-11 for the Group 1 sprint at Longchamp on Arc weekend in October.
“He loves York and so do I!” Hills joked. ”That was amazing. I was really pleased with his draw. It’s quite emotional. Jim gave him a lovely ride and everything has worked out perfectly. He’s seriously fast.”
Battaash has his quirks, but was travelled up from Hills’s Lambourn stable in Friday morning rather than the night before.
“It’s attention to detail with this horse and you try different things,” added Hills, who trains the son of Dark Angel for Hamdan Al Maktoum.
fonte : RacingPost
