Yorkshire Cup: Will Stradivarius win again? Find out who Tom Collins fancies

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods once said: ‘You can win all the tournaments you want, but the majors are what you're remembered for. It's how you're measured as a champion in our sport.’

That quote seamlessly translates to horse racing - record numerous Group 1 victories and you are rewarded with a sprinkling of fame and lofty status within the sport. One horse who has his fair share of both is Stradivarius, who will return for his final season on the racetrack in Friday’s Yorkshire Cup.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained eight-year-old is a stalwart of the stayers’ division and has racked up an incredible 19 victories from 32 career starts, which includes seven Group 1 successes. It is very hard to find a horse of his quality and owner Bjorn Nielsen’s decision to allow Stradivarius to return to the track for three final races this year has to be commended.

It is fair to say that we saw a prime Stradivarius in 2019 when he recorded five consecutive victories during a busy summer period. This race was the first leg of his sequence, and it’s a bit of a surprise that he will make just his second appearance in the Yorkshire Cup given the limited programme for top-level stayers.

He ran to marks between 118 and 123 in those five victories and, barring a stellar performance in the 2020 Ascot Gold Cup, he has failed to hit similar lofty heights since. Saying that, he never throws in a stinker. Stradivarius always produces when he hits the track, but perhaps his older legs are now starting to feel the burn as he certainly doesn’t possess the air of invincibility he once had.

Stradivarius deserves to be favourite due to his backclass and unbeaten record at York. However, numbers players will look to take him on as he doesn’t come out on top on official ratings once his penalty is considered. He also faces race-fit rivals, which could be the undoing of him. It’s worth remembering that he had to work very hard to fend off the 117-rated Spanish Mission in the Lonsdale Cup, a race that was run to suit, here last year. 

So, who could beat him? Given the Knavesmire suits prominent racers, you can make a case for both Thunderous and Tashkhan despite their inferior level of form. 

The former fended off Highest Ground in the 2019 Dante at this course but has failed to supplement that victory since. Perhaps this 1m6f trip will see him in better light. While Tashkhan is already proven at the distance and finished one place ahead of Stradivarius in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October. However, it feels like a leap of faith to back either and there might not be enough give in the ground to see Tashkhan, especially, at his best.

Max Vega, who won the John Porter at Newbury 27 days ago, also prefers soft ground and represents Ralph Beckett, who is just 1-26 in the last fortnight. That leaves the Dermot Weld-trained Search For A Song, who is the obvious bet in this year’s Yorkshire Cup.

This six-year-old mare won the Listed Galtres Stakes at this track on just her fourth career start in 2019 and makes a long overdue trip back to York for her shrewd trainer. The Irish St Leger has been her yearly target over the last three seasons, but there is no reason why Weld won’t have her spot on for this engagement given there’s plenty of time to ready her again for the autumn.

She’s a genuine Group 1 stayer, has 2lb in hand of Stradivarius off their revised ratings and warmed up for this with a highly creditable runner-up finish behind Kyprios, who is thought capable of winning the Ascot Gold Cup next month. That Vintage Crop Stakes form may work out extremely well.

Recommended bet

Search For A Song (3.35 York) @ 4.2