Stradivarius (Sea The Stars-Private Life, by Bering) has successfully completed a hattrick of Gr1 Goodwood Cups overnight.
Ridden by a jubilant Frankie Dettori, it brought the winning sequence to eight for the champion distance horse.
According to the BBC, the achievement makes him just the second runner behind Double Trigger to do so.
Stradivarius scored by a neck for trainer John Gosden, ahead of Ex Dee Bee and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter.
“He’s a jockey’s dream. He’s a bit of a boy, he knows he’s good,” commented Dettori after the race. “All I have to do is put him there and he does the rest.” T
The victory provided Dettori, 48, with a staggering tenth Gr1 triumph in just 60 days.
The festival continues today with the Gr1 Sussex Stakes, over a mile.
The eight-strong field provides equal parts class and intrigue.
Aidan O’Brien supplies two of the protagonists, headed by Circus Maximus (Galileo-Duntle, by Danehill Dancer).
Aidan O’Brien – dominant force
One of a trio that leads the betting market for the feature, a recent neck victory in Royal Ascot’s Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes provides Circus Maximus with an undeniable chance here.
Despite finishing behind him, in third, the John Gosden-trained Champion 2YO of last season, Too Darn Hot, is set to start favourite after a scintillating display when winning France’s Gr1 Prix Jean Prat (7 furlongs) at Deauville earlier in July. Also in contention is Phoenix of Spain who gave his opposition, including Too Darn Hot, a drubbing in May’s Gr1 Irish Guineas (mile).
Adding intrigue is the presence of 6YO Lord Glitters, winner of the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot. Another possible hope is Zabeel Prince, also a 6YO, who won Longchamp’s Gr1 Prix d’Ispahan over 1800m, but not against rivals in this bracket. Meanwhile, O’Brien’s second-stringer – albeit the $34 rank outsider – is no slouch.
I Can Fly is a 4YO mare whose last outing was in the Gr1 Falmouth Stakes (mile) where she finished third as the $3.50 favourite.
