The Stradivarius task: recalling three star stayers who tried to win the Arc

Stradivarius is known as a supreme stayer and has dominated the division in the last three years, capturing a hat-trick of Gold Cups at Ascot, which formed part of a £1 million bonus he has twice landed.

The six-year-old has not had it all his own way since dropping back to the Arc distance of a mile and a half this season and was narrowly denied by Anthony Van Dyck in the Prix Foy last time.

Stradivarius will face an even bigger test in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. Here are other staying stars who attempted to land one of Europe's greatest races.

Ardross

Ardross dominated the staying division in the early 1980s before twice dropping down in trip to contest the Arc for Sir Henry Cecil.

He was a dual winner of the Gold Cup and Yorkshire Cup, which he landed in 1981 and 1982. He also claimed the Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup and Jockey Club Cup, which was renamed the British Champions Long Distance Cup.

Ardross: winning the 1982 Gold Cup under Lester Piggott

Ardross first bid to win the Arc in 1981, when he defied a wide draw to finish best of the British contenders in fifth behind Gold River.

His remarkable career almost had a fairytale ending in the Arc the following year. On his final start, he was narrowly beaten a head under legendary jockey Lester Piggott by the French filly Akiyda.

Westerner

French stayer Westerner came into his own when his trainer Elie Lellouche stepped him up to marathon trips and he won the Prix Royal-Oak and Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in 2003 and 2004.

Westerner: a two-time winner of the Prix du CadranCredit: ScoopDyga

Westerner, now a leading jumps sire, twice ran in Britain, finishing second in the 2004 Gold Cup before landing the race by a neck from Distinction the following year when it was run at York.

He was sent off at 16-1 for the Arc later that season and finished second under Olivier Peslier, two lengths behind Hurricane Run.

Order Of St George

Order Of St George was first campaigned against older horses over staying distances as a three-year-old and landed his first Group 1 for Aidan O'Brien in 2015 when winning the Irish St Leger by 11 lengths.

He won three races the following year before finishing second in the Irish St Leger and heading to Chantilly for the Arc. He finished third behind stablemates Highland Reel and Found under Frankie Dettori.

Order Of St George: twice made the frame in the ArcCredit: Patrick McCann

As a five-year-old, Order Of St George was narrowly beaten in the Gold Cup but did record his second success in the Irish St Leger, as well as winning the British Champions Long Distance Cup.

He once again stepped down in trip to contest his second Arc in 2017 and finished fourth, five and a half lengths behind Enable.

Read more on the Arc:

Members' Club: jockeys, trainers and staff who go to Longchamp may be spared full quarantine

Enable new Arc favourite as heavy rain leaves Longchamp 'very soft'

Olivier Peslier relishing chance to partner 'super horse' Stradivarius

Members' Club: Olivier Peslier can pluck right notes from Stradivarius on biggest stage

Members' Club: Kicking off our countdown of the ten greatest winners of the Arc

Telecaster team heartened by forecast rain and on the hunt for Arc jockey

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