Kew Gardens (7/2) produced a tremendous performance to dethrone racing’s superstar stayer Stradivarius, the 8/13 favourite, in a thrilling renewal of the £450,000 G2 QIPCO Long Distance Cup over two miles.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by his son Donnacha, Kew Gardens rallied gamely in the closing stages to deny Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori an 11th victory in succession.
The pair were separated by just a nose (see above) at the line and the winner, a son of Galileo, could take on Stradivarius once again in next year’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
The master of Ballydoyle said: “We were training Kew Gardens for the Gr1 Gold Cup, but he got an injury and it all went pear-shaped.
“We are just delighted to get him back really. He barely made it back in time to run in the Irish Leger where he finished and second and it just didn’t go right for him on the day.
“Kew Gardens is an incredible horse and it was a great performance. The lads will decide if he stays in training, but I think there is a strong chance that he will.
“He is a very brave horse and we’re delighted for everybody.
“We were thinking about the Gold Cup this year and if the lads decide to keep him in training, he could go there.
“He pulled some muscles in his back which kept him off the track, but we’re delighted to have him back running. I would imagine that would be it for the season.”
Frankie Dettori
Stradivarius’s run of 10 straight wins came to an end and Frankie Dettori, who rode the favourite, said: “It was much too soft for him, he couldn’t use his turn of foot and the other horse outstayed him on the ground.
“He tried, he always tried. He’s like a lion.”
Bjorn Nielsen, who owns Stradivarius, said: “Like Frankie said he’s had a great season and they all get beaten at some time.
“Frankie said it was too soft for him and when he went to quicken up the ground took it out of him. He was getting back up again, but whatever, he’ll be back next season and he’s had a great 10-race sequence. You cannot complain about that.
“He’s had a great season and he hasn’t let us down.”
