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16 Jul 2018

Torcedor and Stradivarius on course for Goodwood Cup

Torcedor, right, and Stradivarius, left, chase home Order Of St George on Champions Day. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Torcedor is on course for another clash with Stradivarius in the Qatar Goodwood Cup on July 31.

The pair have already met twice before in QIPCO British Champions Series races and if thos eprevious battles are any guide then there will be little to choose between the pair when they meet at the West Sussex racecourse.

Torcedor finished half a length in front of Stradivarius when they chased home Order Of St George in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October.

The tables were turned when they met in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last month – Stradivarius taking the spoils and Torcedor being a length behind in third.

Jessica Harrington, the trainer of Torcedor, talking over the phone at a media event for the Qatar Goodwood Festival in London on Monday, said: “Torcedor would be my first runner at Goodwood. At the moment, we are all systems go to run in the Qatar Goodwood Cup.

“He has come out of his run in the Ascot Gold Cup in good form – this looks the logical next step for him.

“Dubai didn’t go right for him at the start of the year as he travelled badly out there and lost a lot of weight. Luckily Colm [O’Donoghue, jockey] looked after him when things weren’t going right in his race and that was really the reason we could bring him back and run in the Sagaro at Ascot which he won.

“He then ran a great race to finish third in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but I think he can be just as effective away from Ascot. He has won for me around Navan and Leopardstown, and at various different courses so I think he is fairly adaptable now.”

She added: “There is always a chance we could beat Stradivarius. The drop back to two miles will suit Torcedor as he does have plenty of pace. He stays further than that, but I do feel two miles will suit him.”

Thady Gosden, son of and assistant to John Gosden, gave a positive bulletin on Stradivarius.
“His preparation for the Goodwood Cup has been excellent,” he said. “He pulled off a shoe in the Gold Cup at Ascot so it showed how brave he was to be able to win that day.
“He has come out of the race bouncing and we’re looking forward to the Qatar Goodwood Cup. Stradivarius is an absolute pleasure to be around at home. He is push-button and always happy. He never gets malicious and he doesn’t cause us any trouble at all.
“He likes to have a jump around and tell everybody that he is good. He is not a big horse, but has a very big heart.”

Order Of St George, who was fourth in the Gold Cup, will skip Goodwood and be targeted at a second success in the Long Distance Cup.

“The plan with Order Of St George is to aim him at Ascot in the autumn if the ground comes up easy,” Aidan O’Brien said.

The trainer is still set to be represented in the Goodwood Cup via Idaho. “He won the Ormonde Stakes well at Chester and we have always felt that Goodwood might suit him,” O’Brien said. “He is better going right-handed and feel that the step up in trip will suit and help bring out some improvement.”