QUEEN’S VASE (GROUP 2)

JOHN Gosden struck for the second day in succession when Stradivarius, 11/2, coming with a well-timed challenge under Andrea Atzeni, landed the Queen’s Vase from Count Octave and Secret Advisor.

As the only horse in the field to have won over the trip, it was hardly surprising that Mark Johnston’s Time To Study was always up there in a bunched field, bunched with the exception of Wisconsin, who was way out wide after some scrimmaging around the first bend.

Time To Study led into the straight but was never able to get clear and the challengers were queueing up. Count Octave, improving for his fifth in the Chester Vase, seemed likely to prevail but Atzeni, having taken up a good position and conserved Stradivarius’ stamina where possible, sent him between horses to get up close home.

DETTORI’S ADVICE

It was the fifth winner of the week which might well have been ridden by Frankie Dettori and Atzeni was quick to credit him with sound advice.

“He just said to look for a good position on the rail, so that’s what I did.

“The horse is actually still learning but was very brave,” he said.

Stradivarius was not stopping at the finish and the St Leger is likely to enter calculations.

“Yes, he’s that type of horse,” Gosden said.

“He’s not very big and not very worldly, either, but he’d improving all the time.

“Thank you, Frankie, for getting them all ready and I’m just sorry you’re not here.”