Stradivarius is poised to break his own record of four successive victories in the G1 Goodwood Cup by posting an extraordinary fifth triumph at Goodwood on Tuesday (27 July). The outstanding staying horse of his generation, Stradivarius has also won three G1 Ascot Gold Cups and his popularity will guarantee loud celebrations if he succeeds.

Thady Gosden, Stradivarius’ joint-trainer with his father John, said: “He is a brilliant horse and in good form. He is now a seven-year-old but in his home work he is still showing the same enthusiasm and turn of foot. He is still right up there.”

In this year’s Ascot Gold Cup, Stradivarius finished a disappointing fourth to the easy winner, Subjectivist, when odds-on favourite but came from a long way back and had a troubled run.

Gosden remarked: “At Ascot, the race didn’t go to plan. He didn’t have a clear run and although I’m not sure he would have beaten Subjectivist, I think he would have been second.”

At 3200 metres, the Goodwood Cup is 800 metres shorter than the Ascot Gold Cup and Stradivarius has proved himself to be ideally suited to the race. Gosden said: “Hopefully he’ll get a better run than at Ascot and will be able to sit behind the leaders and then sprint, which is something most stayers can’t do.”

As to the ground, he added: “Stradivarius is very versatile but he wouldn’t want the going to be too soft. He has a nice low action and is ideally suited by good going.”

Two of the rivals who finished in front of Stradivarius at Ascot, Subjectivist and Princess Zoe, will be absent, leaving Spanish Mission – third at Ascot – as his chief challenger.

Trainer Andrew Balding said: “He ran a very good race in the Ascot Gold Cup and brings a strong level of form to Goodwood. Stradivarius was a little unlucky and is a tough opponent but our horse is very well and we are hopeful.”

Spanish Mission was well beaten in last year’s Goodwood Cup but had run well at the track previously and has improved, showing a preference for a sound surface.

That is unlike Trueshan, a high class stayer but one who needs soft ground to perform to his best. Trainer Alan King said: “He has very good form but we need the hot weather to break; we need rain.” Trueshan’s participation may depend on how much rain falls.

While King is hoping for rain, Mark Johnston will be hoping that it stays away for the much improved Sir Ron Priestley, who is best on a sound surface.

The five-year-old is a good battler and now high class over shorter distances with a good chance of staying the 3200m trip. The horse’s connections had enough confidence to supplement the five-year-old for this race, at a cost of £25,000.

Aidan O’Brien’s powerful Irish yard has five potential runners – Amhran Na Bhfiann, Santiago, Serpentine, Passion and King Of The Castle but none appears to have the credentials to beat the legendary Stradivarius.