Stradivarius and Vazirabad on course for Goodwood Cup rematch

Frankie Dettori and John Gosden celebrate after the Gold Cup victory of Stradivarius. Picture: Racingfotos.com

The first four home in last week’s pulsating Gold Cup at Royal Ascot are on course to meet again in the Qatar Goodwood Cup on July 31.

It was revealed on Wednesday that the quartet – Stradivarius, Vazirabad, Torcedor and Order Of St George – feature among 26 entered fior the £500,000 showpiece, which forms part of the Long Distance category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Stradivarius prevailed by three quarters of a length at the Royal Meeting and will be seeking back-to-back Goodwood Cup triumphs after defeating Big Orange in last year’s renewal.

Alain de Royer-Dupre, trainer of runner-up Vazirabad, is relishing a rematch over half a mile less and the prospect of his six-year-old being the first French winner of the iconic race since 1951.

“We are certainly considering the Qatar Goodwood Cup for Vazirabad,” the Chantilly-based trainer said on Wednesday. “We will keep an eye on the weather, as I wouldn’t want to travel with him if it is really hot. If it is normal weather and not too hot, we will certainly look at coming over.

“He has come back well from Royal Ascot. He doesn’t give the maximum in his races – he is an old man who knows his job and looks after himself.

“Because of the way he races, it has meant he has been able to stay in training for a long time in such good condition. It would be nice to take on Stradivarius again.”

Order Of St George is one of seven entries for Aidan O’Brien. His septet also includes the three-year-old Kew Gardens, successful in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over 14 furlongs at Royal Ascot.

Her Majesty The Queen could be represented by the William Haggas-trained Call To Mind, winner of  the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes over two miles at Belmont Park on his latest start. The Queen has twice enjoyed success in the Goodwood Cup, courtesy of Apprentice (1965) and Gaulois (1966), trained by Cecil Boyd-Rochfort.

Meanwhile, Forever Together, the Investec Oaks winner, and Billesdon Brook, the QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner, are among 20 fillies and mares entered for the £600,000 Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes over nearly 10 furlongs on August 2.

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