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Dettori's fabulous run continues on staying hero Stradivarius

30th July 2019

Frankie Dettori was clearly humming with excited relief after riding Bjorn Nielsen's Stradivarius to victory in the £500,000 G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup.

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It was a historic triumph, for the five-year-old became the first horse to win the famous two-mile race three years in a row. He became Dettori's 10th Group One winner since May, and is now one win away from landing the £1m bonus given by Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance for any horse who can win a sequence of four staying races. Stradivarius, who has now won 12 of 16 races, and his last eight in a row, landed the Yorkshire Cup in May, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, and now today's big prize. He needs to win the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York on August 23 to land the bonus again.

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The John Gosden-trained Stradivarius (4/5f) beat Dee Ex Bee (11/2) by a neck, but Dettori was celebrating before the line and the winner could have won by half a length or perhaps more. In third was Cross Counter (3/1).

Dettori laughed when he said: 'It's not good for the heart - after winning the King George on Saturday [on Enable] and now this on the two most popular and precious horses in training, and with the following of people they both have.

I had the perfect race, and followed the one I thought would be the biggest threat [Cross Counter]. He took me into the race, and it was great to be behind him, otherwise I would have had to make my move earlier. As always, my horse showed he is a stayer with a turn of foot. He passed the others very easily, but when he got to the front and had the race won I probably celebrated a stride too early. Everyone is panicking, but I've been here before and know where the winning post is.

He's an amazing horse who wastes very little energy, is mentally tough and is never going to be flash and win by ten lengths, but he gets the job done. All I have to do is put him in the race and he does the rest. He's a perfect partner.'

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'It's important for the public to have a horse who stays in training for so long and keeps delivering and with Stradivarius you know what you are going to get - a fight. Which is why people love him.

It's nerve-wracking and exciting, but I work for a great trainer in John Gosden, who puts it on a plate for me. He and the staff should have all the credit.'