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He will remain in training for one more season main aim ascot Gold cup then retirement
vf x
If there is one thing racing needs, its another year of John Gosden droning on about “sticky / tacky / deep / holding / soft / heavy” ground, regarding “Strad”.
BUY THE SUN
For whatever reason Strad’ was below form this season. But we may have another opportunity to see the best stayer of recent years back to his best on the racecourse.
Rejoice!
Value Is EverythingI don’t think the horse has been the same since the Arc run. The runs in the Niel and then in the Arc on really deep ground took something out of him.
John Gosden’s comments about Stradivarius being disadvantaged by soft ground make little sense to me after his stunning performance in the 2020 Gold Cup.
I think the horse just isn’t quite as good as he was, but I’m really pleased he’ll be back. Flat racing needs more stars whose careers have some longevity.
Depends how soft, Marlingford. Times on 2020 and 2019 Gold Cup Day suggest to me the going wasn’t quite as soft as the official “Soft”. Mile handicap in particular – run just after the Gold Cup. Only 2.32 seconds slower than Racing Post Standard in 2020 and 2.5 seconds slow in 2019. Stradivarius is in all probability unsuited by heavy and very soft. That said, have noticed when Frankie believes the ground to be unsuitable he’ll be very easy on horses and/or more likely to make errors. So isn’t easy to make definite analysis.
Stradivarius may not be at his very best in the Autumn either. Even his victories at that time of year haven’t shown him to best advantage… And/or needs longer to get over his races than the Arc to Long Distance Cup allows… Particularly so when the race he’s getting over was run under testing (energy sapping) ground conditions.
Then again, you’re right Stradivarius hasn’t been at his best for some time. Hope that is not terminal.
Hope he retires either after the Gold Cup or may be a sound surface Goodwood Cup.
Value Is EverythingMy Strad plan:
Contenders’ Hurdle. See how he jumps in an easy race.
Then put him in the Champion Hurdle.
Go on, you only live once. Have some fun.
The Alderbrook plan, QF.
You would remind me.
Backed both Danoli and Large Action win only for the Champion Hurdle before the season started.
Few weeks before the race couldn’t see any danger…
Then Alderbrook made his hurdling debut at Wincanton…
And took the Champion Hurdle with Large Action and Danoli following him home.
Value Is EverythingAurelius won the St Leger in 1961, was retired to stud after his 4-y-o season, proved infertile, was returned to training in 1966, finished second past the post in the 1967 Champion Hurdle, and won two chases in 1968 at the age of 10.
If Stradivarius fires blanks in the breeding shed I’m sure the horse can go one better than Aurelius in the Champion Hurdle. Followed by a tilt at the Queen Mother the following year.
He’s only 7. There’s plenty of time.
Jumping soft is softer than flat racing soft. Stradivarius may have the ability but his effectiveness both running himself over hurdles and as a NH sire is probably ground dependent. imo One of the reasons why Stradivarius has been kept racing so long may be because connections believe he is not as suited to being a jumping sire than many of his staying contemporaries.
Value Is Everything“One of the reasons why Stradivarius has been kept racing so long may be because connections believe he is not as suited to being a jumping sire than many of his staying contemporaries.”
I can’t have that for a second. Nonsense IMO.
“Which trainer to send him to?
Henderson Mullins Elliott?”Got to be Nicky hasn’t it, he can carry on Gosdens ground whinging with aplomb.
BUY THE SUN
Had not heard about Aurelius before Seasider, that’s really interesting.
As much as I can dream of Stradivarius going jumping, I think it’s more likely we’d see John Gosden lining up in the Champion Hurdle than the horse.
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