- Frankie Dettori steers hot favourite to an easy success
- Great stayer wins by 10 lengths to light up Royal Ascot
Stradivarius bolted 10 lengths clear to win his third Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, despite concerns over the rain-softened ground and coltishness in the paddock. Frankie Dettori was motionless in the saddle at the top of the straight while all his rivals were hard at work and when he asked the chestnut for his effort, the race was immediately over.
Since the Second World War, only Sagaro and Yeats had won the Gold Cup more than twice, so Stradivarius has unequivocally become one of the great stayers in racing history. But he had been beaten in his previous two races and the betting market was sufficiently doubtful to let him start at odds of 4-5.
Related: Royal Ascot 2020: Stradivarius triumphs in Gold Cup– live!