STRADIVARIUS gave Frankie Dettori his very own string quartet as the Italian genius roared to victory in the Gold Cup.

The legendary jockey landed his fourth straight win of the afternoon in the Group 1 contest – and had Frankie dreaming of a repeat of 1996 when he won his 'Magnificent 7' at the track.

Asked if he can do the six-timer, he replied: "It's a little bit of deja vu from 1996, and you never know!"

Unfortunately, though, the dream came to an end in the Britannia where he was just beaten on the line.

Taking the first three races with A'Ali, Sangarius and Star Catcher respectively, he notched his fourth with a typically patient ride aboard Stradivarius and reached another milestone with his seventh win in the Gold Cup.

In a race run at a crawl, the well-punted Dee Ex Bee (7-2) took them along from the outset, with Frankie sitting in behind watching his every move.

As the pace began to increase rounding the home turn, Dee Ex Bee's rider became more animated and immediately the eye was drawn to Stadivarius, full of running under a motionless Dettori.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, though.

Finding himself short of room at the furlong pole, the Italian maestro was momentarily in trouble before he managed to angle his mount into the smallest of gaps.

From then on it was just a matter of guiding him home, and the pair streaked clear to record their second Gold Cup victory on the trot.

Cross Counter looked dangerous for a moment but just failed to stay the trip, with Mark Johnston's contender boxing on for second.

Outsider Master Of Reality (66-1) stayed on gamely to take third, with Cross Counter back in fourth.

Winning trainer John Gosden said: "I know Frankie keeps saying it's me, but it's all down to the horse.
"With his white socks and white face he looks like the milkybar kid should be riding him rather than a jockey!

"Full marks to a remarkable horse and sometimes to a mercurial and remarkable jockey, but I think it's all down to the horse.

I know Frankie keeps saying it's me but it's the horse as well."

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