Stradivarius Aims for Gold Cup Repeat
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori after winning the Yorkshire Cup at York
Stradivarius will face 10 rivals in the Gold Cup (G1) June 20 at Royal Ascot as he attempts to become the first horse since Yeats to win consecutive renewals of Thursday's highlight.
Bjorn Nielsen's 5-year-old son of Sea The Stars, who is trained by John Gosden, will be partnered by Frankie Dettori as usual, but one of his most intriguing threats has not been declared for the 2 1/2-mile group 1 test as Investec Coronation Cup (G1) runner-up Kew Gardens is not in the field of 11.
His stablemate Southern France, who chased home Stradivarius on his comeback at York in the Matchbook Yorkshire Cup (G2), was the other entry not declared. In winning the Yorkshire Cup a second straight year, Stradivarius extended his win streak to six races, all group 1 or group 2 tests.
Yeats won the Gold Cup four straight years from 2006-2009.
Aidan O'Brien remains well represented in the Gold Cup with Capri, Flag of Honour, and Cypress Creek, while the trainer's son Joseph runs Master of Reality. Ryan Moore will be on board Flag of Honour, with Donnacha O'Brien on Capri and Seamie Heffernan on Cypress Creek.
Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) and Dubai Gold Cup sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (G2) winner Cross Counter has long been regarded as one of the main dangers to Stradivarius's dominant grip on the staying division and will be partnered by James Doyle for the first time, with regular partner William Buick on the sidelines.
Mark Johnston has trained the winner of the Gold Cup three times, most recently with Royal Rebel in 2002. The Middleham trainer relies on Dee Ex Bee, last year's Investec Derby (G1) runner-up who has impressed this season in winning the Longines Sagaro Stakes (G3) at Ascot and Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes (G3) at Sandown.
Gold Cup runners and riders
1 Called To The Bar (Maxime Guyon)
2 Capri (Donnacha O'Brien)
3 Magic Circle (Jim Crowley)
4 Stradivarius (Frankie Dettori)
5 Thomas Hobson (Andrea Atzeni)
6 Cross Counter (James Doyle)
7 Cypress Creek (Seamie Heffernan)
8 Dee Ex Bee (Silvestre de Sousa)
9 Flag of Honour (Ryan Moore)
10 Master of Reality (Wayne Lordan)
11 Raymond Tusk (Jamie Spencer)