Gosden pays tribute to retiring Stradivarius

Trainer John Gosden has praised crowd favourite Stradivarius following the announcement of his retirement this morning.

The highly recognisable Stradivarius, with four white socks, has captured the hearts and minds of the British public since his breakthrough year as a three-year-old in 2017, when he won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and went on to win his first Goodwood Cup that year.

Stradivarius has gone on to break numerous records on the track since, including an incredible 16 QIPCO British Champions Series races, which is the most in Series history and he remains far clear of next best and QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Famer, Frankel (nine Series wins).

Gosden commended the ‘unique’ racing career of the eight year old chestnut and the joy he has provided for all his team at Clarehaven Stables.

“Stradivarius has been the most extraordinary and unique racehorse throughout his career. He has always maintained his total commitment and enthusiasm. He exhibited joy in his training and has given enormous pleasure to everyone, both on and off the track,”

“Stradivarius has been the most extraordinary and unique racehorse throughout his career. He has always maintained his total commitment and enthusiasm. He exhibited joy in his training and has given enormous pleasure to everyone, both on and off the track,” Gosden said.

“He was kept in training this year, as an eight year old, to run in three races, the Yorkshire Cup, the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup. He maintained his form at the highest level in all three races and his positive mind set remained undiminished. It is an amazing feat for an entire horse and speaks volumes for his courage and tenacity.

“His constitution has been a marvel to behold and his exciting style of travelling easily in a race, and then quickening to pounce, reflected his character.

“As everyone noticed, he could be very vociferous and playful before a race and quite often put in a buck cantering off to the start. Always an entertainer, but with a tough competitive mind, who was all business when the starting stalls opened.

“To his owner/breeder, to everyone at Clarehaven Stables and to his loving race going public, he has been a constant source of pleasure and excitement. He goes to stud with an amazing race record and enormous affection. To train he has been a complete joy to all of us here. He will remain close to home and is already looking forward to his new career.”

Bred and owned by Bjorn Nielsen, Stradivarius will stand at the National Stud in Newmarket from 2023. In total during his racing career, spanning more than six years, Stradivarius recorded 20 wins from 35 races, a remarkable feat of longevity for a racehorse on the Flat.

His victory in this year’s Yorkshire Cup at York in May made him the record holder for most European Group race wins, with 18.

Among those included four Goodwood Cups and three Gold Cups at Royal Ascot.