Stradivarius: Frankie Dettori hails 'one in a lifetime' stayer after three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner is retired
Stradivarius was retired on Monday after struggling to recover from a bruised foot picked up in the lead-up to a potential run at York; the eight-year-old ends his career with 20 wins from 35 starts, collecting total prize money of over £3.4m
Tuesday 27 September 2022 06:10, UK
Frankie Dettori has described three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner as a 'one in a lifetime' horse after the legendary stayer was retired on Monday morning.
The seven-time Group One winner has been retired at the age of eight by owner Bjorn Nielsen and trainers John & Thady Gosden, having been slow to recover from the bruised foot he sustained last month in the build-up to the Lonsdale Cup at York.
In a sensational career, John and Thady Gosden's star stayer won three Ascot Gold Cups as well as four Goodwood Cups, three Lonsdale Cups and two Doncaster Cups for Nielsen.
- Three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius retired
- Trueshan set for Champions Day after missing Paris assignment
The popular chestnut won a total of 20 races from 35 starts, collecting prize money of over £3.4m in the process.
Frankie Dettori, who rode Stradivarius in all but nine of his 35 career starts and was in the saddle for the vast majority of his successes, said in a message posted to Twitter: "I've just got the news that the mighty Strad has retired, I'm on my way to Germany to ride Torquator Tasso for the Arc.
"What can I say? He's been a part of my life for the past six years. A good friend, a wonderful horse, so many great times together.
"I've never ridden a horse with so many Group wins under my name, I think we did 14 together.
"Big thank you to Bjorn Nielsen and also a big well done to the Clarehaven team.
"It was an honour for me to ride him and I will miss him a lot, he's been a fabulous horse to have, one of a lifetime. I wish him a happy retirement and hopefully he'll become a great stallion in the future."
The star stayer will now be sent to the National Stud in order to take his place as a National Hunt stallion.
