Stradivarius retired to National Stud after a memorable racing career

John Gosden best summed up the retiring Stradivarius earlier this week by branding him ‘unique’.

It was confirmed on Monday that the serial record breaker, who had been trained by Gosden at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket since his debut in 2017, was to halt his racing career with immediate effect.

The eight-year-old had been struggling to fully recover from a bruised foot he sustained last month, prompting owner/breeder Bjorn Nielsen to send his superstar to the National Stud at HQ from 2023.

It brings an end to the most glittering of careers, one which included 16 QIPCO British Champions Series race victories – the next horse on that list is the legendary Frankel with nine wins.

Stradivarius’ triumph at this year’s Yorkshire Cup at York made him the record holder for most European Group race wins, with 18, and among those glory days included four Goodwood Cups and three Gold Cups at Royal Ascot.

Reflecting on all that the son of Sea The Stars achieved, Gosden said: “Stradivarius has been the most extraordinary and unique racehorse throughout his career.

“He has always maintained his total commitment and enthusiasm. He exhibited joy in his training and has given enormous pleasure to everyone, both on and off the track.

“He was kept in training this year, as an eight-year-old, to run in three races – the Yorkshire Cup, the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup.

“He maintained his form at the highest level in all three races and his positive mindset remained undiminished. It is an amazing feat for an entire horse and speaks volumes for his courage and tenacity.

“His constitution has been a marvel to behold and his exciting style of travelling easily in a race, and then quickening to pounce, reflected his character.

“As everyone noticed, he could be very vociferous and playful before a race and quite often put in a buck cantering off to the start.

“Always an entertainer, but with a tough competitive mind, who was all business when the starting stalls opened.

“To his owner/breeder, to everyone at Clarehaven Stables and to his loving race-going public, he has been a constant source of pleasure and excitement.

“He goes to stud with an amazing race record and enormous affection.

“To train he has been a complete joy to all of us here. He will remain close to home and is already looking forward to his new career.”

The vast majority of Stradivarius’ success came with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.

The Italian jockey, who rode him in all but nine of his 35 outings, said in a video on Twitter: “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.”