SUBJECTIVIST landed the biggest prize of the Royal Meeting on Thursday when leaving his rivals toiling to win the Gold Cup by an authoritative five lengths from the gallant Princess Zoe, with three-time winner Stradivarius managing only fourth on his bid to emulate Yeats in winning the race for a fourth time.

Subjectivist (122) certainly had the smoothest passage through the race while his principal rivals looked to be caught somewhat out of their ground.

However, given that Stradivarius (116) ran to the same time figure as last year’s renewal, first impressions are that it is more the case that Mark Johnston’s colt is an outstanding winner of the race.

As is familiar to the son of Teofilo, Joe Fanning took up a handy position early which may have handed him the track position from which to launch his winning run, but it is of also of relevance that all the other horses who raced close to the pace finished well beaten. The winner’s stablemate Nayef Road faired best, beaten over 16 lengths, and supports the case that Stradivarius ran his race as the son of Galileo was only beaten 10 lengths last year.

Eclipsed

Moving to lead passing the three-furlong marker, the four-year-old’s closing sectional of 37.93 seconds was eclipsed by Princess Zoe (117) in second who closed off in 37.8 seconds.

However, there was an ease of victory that suggested Subjectivist had more to offer had it been required and in equal measure no guarantee that the Tony Mullins-trained mare would have found the same finishing kick if ridden as close to the pace as she was fading through the final furlong.

Spanish Mission (117) (38.01 seconds) was the strongest through the final furlong having been forced wider than ideal off the home turn, an inconvenience which may have cost him second place.

And to confirm that Stradivarius was beaten by more than track position, his finishing effort of 38.26 seconds was the slowest of the first four home.

Looking ahead to the staying contests later in the summer, the winner will undoubtedly be difficult to beat at Goodwood as he has excelled on the Sussex downs in the past, while Spanish Mission, who closed the margin of defeat from Meydan, may have his day in the sun when returning to Doncaster at the end of the summer.

Princess Zoe will no doubt benefit from a return to a softer surface in the autumn.

Norfolk Stakes

Perfect Power (104) just got the better of Go Bears Go (104) in the Norfolk Stakes with the pair split by just a head after racing on opposite sides of the track.

Having his third run, Richard Fahey’s colt put all his experience to good use to pick up very strongly in the closing stages in the manner of a horse who will appreciate an extra furlong. His finishing sectional of 35.11 seconds was the fastest of the races on the straight track on the day.

Project Dante (104) looked unlucky as he had to wait for a run before delivering a challenge that saw him closing the winner down all the way to the line.

It may have been a disadvantage to Bryan Smart’s colt being drawn in the outside stall as he missed the break slightly which contributed to him having to come through horses to challenge. The son of Showcasing is the equal of the winner judged on his closing sectional of 35.15 seconds.

There was little to separate the two groups at halfway with Go Bears Go making his own running on the far side while predictably the Wesley Ward-trained Lucci headed the stands’ side.

However, the American raider faded in the closing stages while Go Bears Go was strong all the way to the line. The son of Kodi Bear registered an identical closing sectional to the winner to prove half a length too good for Aidan O’Brien’s Cadamosto (104) who was just 0.04 seconds slower throughout the final section.

As the data suggest, there is little to choose between the first four home and they all look two-year-olds to follow through the summer.

Go Bears Go looked ideally suited by the minimum distance, while the others are sure to improve further for a step up in trip.