Frankie Dettori and STRADIVARIUS (Sea The Stars-Private Life) roared past Gr 1 Melbourne Cup winner CROSS COUNTER with 200m to go and raced clear to win the Gr 1 Goodwood Cup over 3200m last night.
It was the 4th time Dettori had won the race. It was the 3rd time Stradivarius had won the race and the first time they have paired up.
Cross Counter was very brave and was a great, gallant 3rd in a fast run race under the conditions, which was set up by a tearaway leader in Wells Farhh Go. The track was slow and they ran 3.29.1, but really, all those things are immaterial.
This is a super stayer, one of the best, if not the best long distance stayer on the planet.
He sat back in 5th all the way, tracking Cross Counter who was 4th throughout, before turning in and the pair quickened.
Stradivarius accelerated like he had just joined in the race and went past Cross Counter quite easily with 200m to travel.
He won with Frankie raising a celebratory arm close to the line, by ¾ of a length from the really tough DEE EX BEE with Cross Counter less than a length further back in 3rd.
Stradivarius started 4/5f in the $1.2million race.
It was his 17th start and his 12th win.
Being a stallion, he is assured of a great career at stud. It has not been decided if he is coming down to contest the Gr 1 Melbourne Cup this year, probably not most likely, instead he may well go to the Lonsdale which he won last year, and maybe the Arc.
There is no plan to retire him this year either and he may well attempt to win his 4th Goodwood Cup next year.
As it is, he has now equalled the great DOUBLE TRIGGER’s 3 x Goodwood Cup wins.
John Gosden, the trainer of the moment, who also trains the champion ENABLE, puts the polish on Stradivarius.
“The way he quickened was very pleasing,” said Gosden.
“We knew Cross Counter was a good two-miler and we were happy to sit behind him today. He really was explosive and he’s a Champion pure stayer.
“These sort of horses are rare and when we have them racing we really need to appreciate them.”
Cross Counter remains the $15 favourite in 2019 Melbourne Cup odds with Sportsbet.
