Stradivarius to keep on playing next year
Connections for veteran star stayer Stradivarius expect him to carry on racing as an eight-year-old next year.
Connections for star stayer Stradivarius expect him to carry on racing as an eight-year-old next year.
The three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner, each time with Frankie Dettori on board, will continue training in 2022, following discussions between owner Bjorn Nielsen and joint trainers John and Thady Gosden.
The Royal Ascot showpiece, in which he finished fourth this season, will again be a main objective - preceded by a prep run.
Stradivarius stays in training… Will it be 4 Gold Cups at #RoyalAscot 2022? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/b2acmSrIV7
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) October 26, 2021
"He's still training as he did four years ago, so we're happy to race on. We're looking forward to it," Nielsen told www.sportinglife.com.
The owner reports Stradivarius is expected to reappear in either the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot or Yorkshire Cup at York, before heading to the Royal meeting.
Stradivarius won three of his six races this year - the Sagaro, the Lonsdale Cup and Doncaster Cup. The son of Sea The Stars is also a four-time Goodwood Cup winner.
Soft ground prevented Stradivarius from going for a fifth successive win in the Goodwood Cup this summer, but that race is also expected to be on his agenda in 2022.
Thady Gosden is delighted Stradivarius will continue his racing career for another season.
"He still loves his training and racing, and it's exciting for everyone to have him for another year," he told PA Media.