HIGHLIGHT of Thursday at Royal Ascot, and arguably highlight of the week due to a reinvigorated programme for stayers, was the Gold Cup, in which Stradivarius repeated last year’s win against similarly strong opposition. He was boxed in at one stage but showed speed and resolution to prevail.

What he did not have to do is dip into reserves of out-and-out stamina due to a surprisingly tepid earlier gallop. The last-three-furlong finishing speed for the Gold Cup was a sprightly 108.6%, and one thing Stradivarius definitely possesses, by staying standards, is a turn of foot.