Stradivarius one victory from completing historic four-race feat with £1m bonus on the line in Lonsdale Cup at York
Odds-on favourite for 14:25 race has already won the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup this season with just one more needed to scoop the jackpot
A BUMPER £1m jackpot is on the line at York if Stradivarius can complete an historic four-racing winning sequence.
Never before has a horse triumphed at the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup in the same season.
But four-year-old Stradivarius is one win away from doing just that, with just the Lonsdale Cup to come on Friday.
Ridden by colourful jockey Frankie Dettori, the talented horse is favourite to come up trumps in the race at 14:25.
Victory would hand the £1m bonus, put up by Lonsdale Cup sponsors Weatherbys Hamilton, to trainer John Gosden and owner Bjorn Nielsen.
The money will be broken down with 70 per cent going to the horse’s owner and 30 per cent divided equally between the trainer, stable staff, breeder and jockey.
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Stradivarius was victorious at the Yorkshire Cup at the same track in May, before winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and then defending his Goodwood Cup crown in August.
One of his eight rivals for for the race, Petitioner, is also owned by Nielsen and could be used as a pace setter.
Italian Dettori said: “What he (Stradivarius) has done is almost impossible, to win the three races he has already. That is so hard to do. But the two miles of the Lonsdale Cup is his optimum distance.
“The two-and-a-half miles of the Ascot Gold Cup was stretching him and we got that job done. Two miles is what he wants. Fingers crossed, let's hope it goes smooth and well.”