Strad comes out on top in Queen's Vase Stradivarius came home best to emerge victorious in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. The Group Two contest was run over a mile and three-quarters having been reduced from two miles but it was nevertheless a thorough test of stamina. Time To Study made much of the running along with Wisconsin, who hung badly heading out for the second circuit and raced very wide before eventually rejoining the remaining runners. That pair rounded the home turn in front, but Wisconsin predictably faded quickly soon after and try as he might, Time To Study was unable to hold off the chasing pack. Count Octave hit the front inside the final two furlongs, but John Gosden's 11-2 chance Stradivarius came at him late under Andrea Atzeni and got up to score by a neck. Secret Advisor was a couple of lengths away in third. Atzeni said: "Mr Gosden was keen for me to get a good position and I got one on the rails. "He's a horse that is still learning but he was very brave to go through the gap, when he got through he picked up really well. "It was fairly messy at that first bend, but I was lucky my horse travelled into it and I could get a good position. "It's great to have a winner here, I've waited two years (since first one) and I've had good chances all week." Gosden said: "He's improving, we planned the race for some time after Chester. "Andrea has ridden him beautifully from an outside draw, he's saved ground all the way, slipped here, slipped there, wriggle wriggle and he's won it in good style. "He's a St Leger-type of horse, improving all the time, he's got a great attitude and it's great for Andrea, I think that's only his second Ascot winner. I feel sorry for Frankie (Dettori, who is injured), that's another winner he's missed. "I thank Frankie for getting them all ready, I'm just sorry you weren't here my friend." The placed horses could also be aimed at the St Leger. Andrew Balding said of Count Octave: "I'm delighted as that was only his fourth run and he's still learning. He's a horse for the future. I'm delighted with how he travelled and he looks a stayer for the future. "He might be a St Leger horse but he would not want the ground too soft. I think York would suit him very well so the Great Voltigeur is a possibility and I'll discuss that with Sheikh Fahad." Charlie Appleby said of the third: "He's got a stout pedigree and he's done what he's bred to do, which is stay. He's got a nice future ahead of him and that was only the fourth run of his life. I'm not saying there's bags of improvement in him, but he is a Dubawi and they get better with racing. "It's not out of the realms to say he's a St Leger horse."
