Stradivarius aiming to hit another high note

The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup will launch Champions Day in style with the hugely anticipated rematch between Big Orange and Order Of St George, separated by inches in a pulsating Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, set to open the day’s racing.

Also in the mix and added at the supplementary stage is Her Majesty the Queen’s, Dartmouth, who won the Betway Yorkshire Cup by a neck in May.

Big Orange prevailed by a short head at the Royal Meeting and subsequently made a valiant attempt to win a third successive Qatar Goodwood Cup, beating all bar Stradivarius, while Order Of St George has since gained a second runaway win in the Irish St Leger and been fourth to Enable in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Stradivarius, a close third in the William Hill St Leger since his defeat of Big Orange at Goodwood, also features among the 19 entries who remain in the Group 2 two-mile feature.

Sheikhzayedroad, winner of the Long Distance Cup last year, is on course to defend his crown, while Desert Skyline, the Doncaster Cup winner, and Montaly, who landed the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York in August, add tremendous depth.

WHAT THEY SAY:

John Gosden, trainer of Stradivarius:

“He’s been a revelation this year – his wins in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and Goodwood Cup were fabulous. If the ground is decent, he will run.

“He’s in very good form and was finishing strongly in the Leger where he got to race on his own a bit – the race was happening in the middle, and he was on the rail, and then in the next moment he’s coming back at them. It was probably the best Leger run for a very long time – and run hard. He will be a lot of fun in the Cup races next year.”

Andrew Balding, trainer of Lonsdale Cup winner Montaly:

“He’s run well at Ascot in the past without winning and enjoys a bit of give in the ground. He seems to enjoy breaks between his races and I probably ran him too soon at Doncaster [last time]. He’s now had over a month’s break going into Ascot and I think that will serve him well.”

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