St Leger in view after Goodwood triumph. Sea The Stars’ son Stradivarius delivered a scintillating performance on the opening day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival to become a rare three-year-old winner of the Goodwood Cup, an exploit not realised since 1990. The tough colt was asked for an effort by Andrea Atzeni from his position in the pack three furlongs from home, and he stuck well to his task, battling to beat hat-trick seeking Big Orange in the final furlong.

Promoted to Group 1 status this year, the Goodwood Cup is the second prestigious success for Stradivarius, who lifted the Group 2 Queen’s Vase during Royal Ascot.

Bjorn Nielsen’s homebred Stradivarius, whose great granddam is Oaks victrix Pawneese, is the eighth top-flight winner for his Gilltown Stud sire Sea The Stars. John Gosden’s charge has proven that he possesses both stamina and class, and he is now likely to be dropped back in trip for the St Leger at Doncaster in September. Stradivarius’ trainer commented: “Andrea said he doesn’t know how good he is yet. He has a big heart which is all that matters for a racehorse." His jockey Andrea Atzeni added on the colt’s performance: "He picked up like a nice horse and could be anything."

Sea The Stars has already produced Classic winners Taghrooda (Epsom Oaks), Sea The Moon (German Derby), and of course dual Derby hero Harzand who now stands alongside his father at the Aga Khan Studs’ Gilltown Stud. His Gr.1 winning progeny also features Cloth Of Stars and Mekhtaal, who have scored at top level in 2017, as well as Vazira and Zelzal.

Updated on 02/08/2017.