Stradivarius heads ten contenders for Lonsdale Cup

Stradivarius has won his past eight races. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Super stayer Stradivarius is the star name among ten entries for the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday.

The John Gosden-trained five-year-old has already won nine races that fall under the QIPCO British Champions Series banner and need one more to nudge past the haul managed by Frankel in 2011 and 2012.

He will also scoop his connections a second £1 million Weathers Hamilton Stayers’ Million if successful.

Connections of the Bjorn Nielsen-owned stayer took advantage of the huge incentive when it was on offer for the first time in 2018, thanks to victories in the Yorkshire Cup, Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup.

He has repeated his triumphs in the first three races this season and has now won his past eight races.

The 80-rated Ginistreli, in the same ownership, could be used a potential pacemaker.

The opposition could be led by Mark Johnston’s Dee Ex Bee, who has finished runner-up to Stradivarius at Ascot and Goodwood.

Aidan O’Brien has four possibles, including Yorkshire Cup second Southern France, who won the St Leger Trial at the Curragh on Friday evening.

Capri, Il Paradiso and South Pacific complete the Ballydoyle trainer’s quartet. Cleonte, Falcon Eight and Magic Circle are the other entries.