Gold Cup Could be Swan Song for Stradivarius

John Gosden told the assembled media at a pre-Royal Ascot press event that keeping Stradivarius  interested in racing at the age of eight and with a stud career still ahead of him presented unique challenges.

But the three-time Gold Cup (G1) hero, who has dominated the staying division over the course of five seasons, is back for what we must assume is his Royal Ascot swan song and showed the fire still burns when raising the roof at York last month with a one-length defeat of Thunderous  in the Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup (G2).

"Stradivarius has trained well since the Yorkshire Cup. We just hope for a clean race and may the best horse win," Gosden said.

The joint-trainer trusts in Frankie Dettori, who will be riding the son of Sea The Stars for the 24th time.

"He doesn't want to be given a massive amount to do in his races these days but on the other hand he doesn't want to get there too soon as that's not a good idea either," Gosden said. "He's an old pro now. He had bad luck with the ground last year and a couple of tactical issues but we know he goes well on summer ground."

Should Stradivarius prevail for a fourth time, he will match Yeats not only for wins in the race but as a victorious 8-year-old. The previous entrant into that particular club was Merman in 1900.

Tony Mullins: 'I Have No doubt Princess Zoe is Better Than Last Year'

Princess Zoe 's popularity and prominence dates from her rags-to-riches rise up the staying ranks in the second half of 2020, which yielded group 1 glory for Tony Mullins and her owners in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1).

But along with the romance she has built an impressive body of work that more than entitles the daughter of Jukebox Jury  to her position among the top three in the betting.

Of particular note is her runner-up effort behind Subjectivist  on good to firm ground in this race 12 months ago, as well as an excellent performance when winning the Longines Sagaro Stakes (G3) back here in April.

"It's not very often you come into a race where absolutely everything goes perfectly in the lead-up but that's exactly what has happened with Zoe," Mullins said. "She's 100%. There have been no setbacks, so she's either good enough or she isn't."

Reflecting on her run here 12 months ago, Mullins added: "I have no doubt whatsoever that she's a better mare now than she was last year. Last year's Gold Cup told me she handles quicker ground and the Sagaro proved it."

Mullins is full of respect for Stradivarius and regards the three-time winner as the main barrier for Princess Zoe.

"I've been surprised to see so much money for Kyprios," said Mullins. "It's a massive ask for a 4-year-old to go from a mile and six to two and a half miles, but he's obviously trained by a master. It'll be some training feat if he gets him to win a Gold Cup.

"Stradivarius is one of the all-time greats and Mojo Star  was second in the (Cazoo) Derby (G1) and the (Cazoo St.) Leger (G1), so he shouldn't be underestimated."

O'Brien Hopeful as Kyprios Heads Into Unknown Territory

While Stradivarius is bidding to match the feat of Yeats in winning the Gold Cup at eight, Kyprios  would be more in keeping with a couple of trainer Aidan O'Brien's other winners of this race as a lightly raced 4-year-old who showed group-level form over a mile and a half and has looked capable of carrying that class further in distance.

Leading Light and Fame And Glory both succeeded with that profile and Kyprios was sent off at 7-2 for last season's Novibet Derby Trial, finishing fourth to Third Realm and Adayar .

After almost a year off he defeated another stayer to carry the black and white Moyglare silks in Search For A Song  in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan, before winning the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes (G3) in the manner you would expect of a 1-10 shot.

Both those victories were over 14 furlongs and O'Brien said: "We're obviously going into unknown territory with regard to the trip, but he has got every trip we've run him over so far and hopefully that'll be the case here as well.

"We've been delighted with him this year, as he's shown the improvement on the track that we'd always hoped he had in him. It looks to be a very competitive Gold Cup, but it always is, and he goes into it in good form. We've been very happy with him since Leopardstown."