The Million Is Won By Stradivarius

[Wandering Eyes]

   Few believed the inaugural £1million bonus put up by Weatherbys Hamilton would be landed, but Bjorn Nielsen’s Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had the ideal blend to make it happen and he finished the job off with guts and determination on Friday as he conquered the last leg in York’s G2 Lonsdale Cup sponsored by the bonus suppliers. Without the zip he showed in the May 18 G2 Yorkshire Cup, but with all the gameness he displayed when following up in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 21 and July 31 G1 Goodwood Cup, the 4-11 favourite sat sixth early and looked in trouble for a spell midstraight, but stuck to his guns to overhaul Count Octave (GB) (Frankel {GB}) approaching the furlong pole en route to a 1 1/2-length success. “He didn’t feel as good as he did at Ascot–he was a bit lethargic and it was only his class that got him through today,” Frankie Dettori said. “He was a little bit below-par, but once he’s got a target he’ll go and pick anything up. When he eyeballed Count Octave, I knew he’d win but he was laboured today. He has had four very hard races.” Nielsen summed up the pulling off of the bonus. “Impossible,” he said. “Brilliant trainer, brilliant jockey. To get him to peak like that four times is incredible.”

1–STRADIVARIUS (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Private Life (Fr) (MSP-Fr), by Bering (GB)
2nd Dam: Poughkeepsie (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
3rd Dam: Pawneese (Ire), by Carvin II
(330,000gns RNA Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O/B-Bjorn Nielsen (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £127,598. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 13-8-1-2, £1,313,347. *1/2 to Persian Storm (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), Hwt. 3yo-Ger at 9.5-11f & MGSW-Ger, $121,198; Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), GSP-Eng, $167,081; and Magical Eve (Ger) (Oratorio {Ire}), SP-SAf.

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