Morrison believes Quickthorn has every chance of denying Stradivarius a record seventh win at York

All eyes will be on staying star Stradivarius when he bids for his fourth win in the Weatherby’s Hamilton Lonsdale Cup on Friday, and for his seventh win from seven starts at York.

Stradivarius will be clear favourite and undoubtedly the one to beat unless the going eases sufficiently for Trueshan to take part. However, Hughie Morrison is not one to let sentiment stand in the way of an opportunity and he saddles a live threat in Quickthorn, who has made a highly successful step up to Group company since going agonisingly close in last year’s Sky Bet Ebor.

As a winner of the Henry II Stakes at Sandown and the Prix Maurice de Nieuil at Longchamp on his last two starts, Morrison is eyeing a crack at a Group 1 with Quickthorn before long, but that can wait.

He said: “Quickthorn ran better than I expected him to in the Ebor last year, as I didn’t think he was on fire at home, and he’s done very well since. He deserves his chance in a Group 1, as we’ve been through the gears in a Group 3 and a Group 2. We were thinking of the Irish St Leger, but I’m not sure anything is going to beat the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup winner Kyprios this year and although this is a Group 2 again, he has no penalty.”

“He put them to the sword at both Sandown and Longchamp. He went out to gallop them into the ground and he duly did so. He’s got a very good cruising speed and just gallops. I just hope they put plenty of water on, or the forecast rain comes on Thursday night. We won’t necessarily ride him as aggressively this year, as we might be setting it up for a finisher.”

Morrison has saddled top level winners of all descriptions, on the Flat and over jumps, including two winners of the Darley July Cup. However, while he did extremely well with out-and-out sprinters Pastoral Pursuits and Sakhee’s Secret he seems to excel with stayers like Quickthorn.

He explained: “To keep doing what we are doing with limited resources you really need very patient owners who can take their horses home and are prepared to give them every opportunity to develop to their best, whatever age that might be.”

Alcazar, he points out, won the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak aged ten, while Marmelo, Nearly Caught and Sweet Selection only developed into classy stayers after being allowed all the time they needed. In comparison, Quickthorn is relatively youthful, so may well have improvement in him.

Can Stradivarius add to his clean sheet at York

Stradivarius is no longer unbeatable, but his third win in the Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup and subsequent summer placings behind Kyprios at Royal Ascot and Goodwood confirm that the fire still burns bright enough – so bright indeed that owner Bjorn Nielsen told the Racing Post at the weekend that retirement is not necessarily imminent and a return in 2023 is “a possibility, so long as he shows he wants to do it.”

Since Goodwood, where Andrea Atzeni returned to the saddle in place of Frankie Dettori, he has pleased at home, as joint trainer Thady Gosden confirmed.

“Stradivarius ran a huge race at Goodwood and he’s come out of it very well. He’s enjoying life as much as ever and he’s bouncing around the place.

Gosden said: “Stradivarius ran a huge race at Goodwood and he’s come out of it very well. He’s enjoying life as much as ever and he’s bouncing around the place.

“He’s got a pretty good record at most tracks, but York obviously suits him particularly well with it’s long straight and he’s never been beaten there. Andrea came and rode him in a piece of work last Wednesday and he was very pleased with him. He knows him well and they get on very well together.”

The Goodwood Cup third Trueshan, who beat Quickthorn in Nottingham’s Further Flight Stakes and went on to win the Northumberland Plate, has been declared in the hope that the going eases significantly, although there is not much prospect of that according to the forecasters.

A Group 1 winner in the 2021 Goodwood Cup and Prix Du Cadran, and twice successful in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, he is the highest-rated stayer in training but Alan King will not risk him on fast ground again and he also holds an entry at Chester on Saturday.

King said: “He won’t run as things stand, on ‘good, good to firm in places’, but there’s rain coming through on Thursday night. We don’t know how much, but I’d look awfully stupid if it went good to soft.”