Soccer

Stradivarius set for May York comeback

"The Strad" is a favourite of Frankie Dettori and John and Thady Gosden's star stayer is booked in for a May comeback at York.

John and Thady Gosden are readying their star stayer Stradivarius for a May return at York.
The eight-year-old was last seen at Ascot in October, finshing third behind Trueshan in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup
The Queen's Reach For The Moon will likely run at York too, having an entry for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.
Her Majesty's Sea The Stars colt is also entered in the Cazoo Epsom Derby, which is run on June 4 during Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Being beaten by a head in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on his last appearance in September hasn't put the Gosdens off a potential tilt at the Classic at Epsom, as Reach For The Moon had shown plenty of potential during wins at Newbury and Sandown before that
The Newbury win saw Reach For The Moon run on well to comfortably beat Andrew Balding's Harrow with a four length victory.
Meanwhile, the Sandown win in the Group 3 Solario Stakes had Reach For The Moon, running a little freely before asserting his class with a further four lengths victory over Michael Bell's Great Max.
Veteran stayer Stradivarius will run in the Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup, a race he has won twice previously. His first Yorkshire Cup victory came in May 2018 where he dispatched David Elsworth's Sesert Skyline by three lengths over one mile and six furlongs.

Stradivarius returned to York the next year to take the Group 2 Yorkshire cup again, seeing off AP O'Brien's Southern France by a game three-quarters of a length.

Gosden said: "They are all fine. Stradivarius will go to York. Both of them will be pointing towards York.
"Stradivarius for the Yorkshire Cup and Reach For The Moon to the Dante. They are going all right at this stage. It is early days."
The Epsom Derby looks to be the ultimate challenge for Reach For The Moon and the big race takes place on Saturday June 4 at Epsom.
Aiden O'Brien's Luexembourg currently heads the betting for the prestigious Group 1, one of the English Classic races and considered by many to be the finest in the world.

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