'What a horse!' - Stradivarius lands record-breaking 17th European Group race

Irish Champions Weekend has something to live up to after an extraordinarily special British champion's day at Doncaster.

That was not what the marketeers were calling the third afternoon of the St Leger meeting, but it was what it emphatically turned into after a deliciously crowd-pleasing victory for the horse who has been king of the stayers since before most of the runners on the card were even foaled.

Watch Stradivarius thrill an appreciative crowd on Town Moor in the Doncaster Cup

It wasn't a PR stunt that had Frankie Dettori blowing kisses to the crowd as he returned in triumph. Playing the Superman theme on the public address was no gimmick but a perfect response to a superhero of a horse who might have been straight out of DC Comics.

Even the weather knew. The rain held off respectfully until Stradivarius had got the job done in the Doncaster Cup, drizzling slightly as he made his way into the winner's enclosure and only drenching those humans left attempting to put into context the 17th Group-race success of his career.

That broke the record for the most European Group wins by a horse trained on the continent, previously held jointly with Cirrus Des Aigles. The pair jointly hold the record for the most worldwide Group wins by a horse trained in Europe.

Win number 17 came easier than 16. Having battled to a nip-and-tuck triumph at York last month, Bjorn Nielsen's seven-year-old had his task simplified by the withdrawal of Goodwood Cup winner Trueshan – for whom the rain arrived much too late.

"That was great," Dettori said. "It was probably the easiest race he's had since last year when he was here. He made it look easy again. He still loves his racing."

Stradivarius, who could be seen travelling ominously strongly three furlongs out, eased to the front more than a furlong from the line and came home two and a half lengths clear of Alerta Roja.

He also won this race in 2019 and trainer John Gosden said: "He's a wonderful horse. He's a phenomenon, really. I couldn't have been more thrilled with him.

John Gosden: 'He's a wonderful horse. He's a phenomenon, really'Credit: Alan Crowhurst

"I'm sorry the other horse couldn't run but maybe we'll meet one day. He's had a great season. He's won three out of four and Frankie's ride in the Gold Cup wasn't the greatest but the winner was mighty impressive."

The Prix du Cadran at Longchamp and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot are options for the autumn and Gosden said: "It was specialists' ground at Ascot last year and he hated it. We'd look at the Cadran but at Ascot we do have the option if it goes heavy to switch to the inner.

"Those are the options. Probably one and not both. When it goes autumn deep he cannot take it, he's got a beautiful action and small feet, he sinks in. It was a mistake to run him last year."

Would you be a backer of Stradivarius at 5-2 for the Long Distance Cup at Ascot?

But whether he runs in either or neither, there could still be more special days to come with Stradivarius.

Gosden said: "His enthusiasm is there 100 per cent and I can assure everyone who loves him that the moment it's not there he will be retired. But until that day comes, which he will tell us, not me or Bjorn, he will race.

"He's a dear old horse. I've always enjoyed Cup horses, so being able to train him has been a dream come true for me."

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