Dettori pulls the strings as Stradivarius comes of age in pulsating battle

Frankie Dettori rode his 60th Royal Ascot winner in a superb Gold Cup in which his mount Stradivarius outfought French raider Vazirabad, long-time leader Torcedor and joint-favourite Order Of St George in an epic finish that had Ladies' Day spectators in raptures.

The John Gosden-trained Stradivarius, just four and the young pretender of the staying division, travelled through the race beautifully for Dettori and entered the straight moving sweetly, with just Torcedor and Order Of St George, who won this in 2016 and finished second to Big Orange last year, ahead of him.

The 7-4 joint-favourite was asked to go and win the race inside the final two furlongs, a task he accepted with enthusiasm and to approving roars from the grandstand, but as he battled by the front pair along came the grey Vazirabad with a powerful run.

The rivals came close enough to lock eyes for several tense yards, but it was the French gelding who blinked first and Stradivarius raced on to a three-quarter-length victory, going away at the line, in a race that fully lived up to its billing.

Dettori, who missed the winning ride on Big Orange last year because of an arm injury, said: "Ryan [Moore, on Order Of St George] was in trouble four out but I thought that could be deceiving because if I attack him now he might battle me out of it, so I waited until the straight, and I waited past the two, and then I thought 'now I can get him'.

"As I got rid of him I saw the grey head and I thought 'oh, shit'. He managed to get within a neck but he couldn't get past me. I knew my horse was brave and that was it – I knew I'd won the Gold Cup.

"It was thrilling to win a Gold Cup in that manner. That's what the public wanted to see and that's what they got. Sometimes it looks like a great match on paper but this was a nailbiter to the end.

"It was brilliant. The crowd got behind it. It was mental really, I was loving it. To have the three best horses in the last furlong battling it out, you can't beat it. Full credit to the horse, he was as brave as a lion, and to John – his first Gold Cup."

It was indeed Gosden's first Gold Cup, but for Frankie it was a sixth, to go with his 60th Royal Ascot winner. But as he clarified: "It is my sixth and my 60th – but I'm only 47, don't mix it up!"

Stradivarius proved his stamina in the 2m4f contestCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gosden has had mixed fortunes this week, celebrating an opening- day treble before hot favourite Cracksman flopped in the Prince of Wales's, but this more than got his Royal Ascot back on track.

"It's lovely to win the Gold Cup," he said. "He's travelled round, fought off a very good horse and then suddenly who comes looming but Soumillon on the Aga Khan's and I thought 'uh oh, we're going to get clubbed by the French late on'. But luckily he stuck his neck out and went on. He showed a lot of grit and determination. It was a stunningly good race.

"He's a dear horse, he's not very big, he's got this lovely little white legs and face, he looks like a mini Trigger. He's a gorgeous little horse – I could see Wyatt Earp riding into town on him."

Stradivarius was found to be lame after a routine post-race examination having lost his right-hind shoe.

Next up for the winner will be the Qatar Goodwood Cup and one step closer to a potential £1 million bonus awarded to any horse who can win four of the season's top staying races.

Stradivarius began by winning the Yorkshire Cup, has now added the Gold Cup and will claim the bonus if he wins at Goodwood and then follows up in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York’s Ebor meeting.

Beyond that, however, options are open, with Gosden confirming both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Melbourne Cup would be considered.

Result, replay and analysis

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