Doncaster Cup Stakes Guide 2021

Stradivarius was the Doncaster Cup winner in 2019, however connections chose not to run him here for back to back wins last year in 2020.

Training duo, John and Thady Gosden are one of the top Doncaster trainers this season with an impressive 27% strike rate at the track, whilst usual rider Frankie Dettori is somewhat of a course specialist, having boasted a 39% strike rate at the track last season (7 wins in 18 runs).

Now 7yo, Stradivarius, was a Group 3 winner in the Sagaro stakes at Ascot on his seasonal re-appearance (2m), however was unable to land a blow when upped to 2.5 miles next time out, finishing 4th, when denied a clear run at a crucial stage of the race; although it remains debatable as to whether he would have beaten the strong travelling Subjectivist that day, regardless.

The son of Sea The Stars was back to winning ways last time out however at York, gamely edging out Spanish Mission in a photo in the Lonsdale Cup (2m) and he now encounters an 18f contest upon forecasted well suited conditions.

He has leading claims on form upon the current fast ground and will take all the beating here having already proven his suitability to Town Moor.

Trueshan really made his mark when obliterating a 13 strong field, including Stradivarius, by 7.5 lengths on his final run last season in the Group 2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot upon testing terrain.

Alan Kings gelding is a known mud lover and established himself at the highest level last time out at Goodwood when landing the Group 1 Goodwood Cup upon soft ground; a level of form that is highly respectable now dropping back down to a Group 2.

Under current forecasted conditions however, Trueshan has it all to find against the fast ground horses and unless there is any major chances to the conditions before start time, the ground ultimately looks as though it will hold him here.

Eye-catchingly, Rodrigo Diaz has seen a lot of early money in the Doncaster Cup market with the 20/1 previously available, no longer.

Trainer David Simcock operates at a highly touted 18% strike rate at Doncaster across the last 5 seasons and has his yard in good shape of late with almost 70% of his runners, running to form.

Similarly, jockey, Jamie Spencer, enjoys Town Moor and also boasts an impressive 20% strike rate at the South Yorkshire venue.

Rodrigo Diaz is a progressive type and has held his form well, despite taking on increasingly tougher races, failing to finish outside the top 3 in his last 8 races: 11121322

The son of Golden Horn was given too much to do in the latter stages of his first try over 2m in a class 2 handicap at Newbury on his penultimate start, running on gamely at the finish.

He then proved himself in Group company next time out at Newbury to finish 3rd when dropping back down to 1m 5f, keeping on at the line.

Progeny of Golden Horn are known to run well at Doncaster, boasting a 20% strike rate and 42% place rate at the track, thereby further highlighting Rodrigo Diaz's suitability here (1 from 1 at Doncaster).

The return to 2m+ is also a big plus and although unproven at the trip, looks sure to see it out based on previous exploits.

Looks a solid each way or 'win without favourite' play in the race.

Mark Johnston's is a 3 time winner of the Doncaster Cup, albeit with all 3 wins coming in the 90's with the same horse, Double Trigger.

Jockey, Andrea Atzeni, is in great form of late and boasts a 31% strike rate at Doncaster this season, adding to an already impressive 20% strike rate he holds at Doncaster across the last 5 seasons.

Nayef Road was a Group 3 winner on the all-weather last season at Newcastle (2m) and subsequently held his form well for the remainder of his 4yo campaign, placing 2nd twice behind Stradivarius in Group 1 and 2 affairs, the latter of those runs getting within 1 length of the winner, before finishing 3rd in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup.

The son of Galileo's form this season however has been patchy, he returned with a solid 3rd placed finish in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot 1.5 lengths behind Stradivarius however has failed to kick on from that performance down at 14f, up at 20f and across 2 unsuited soft ground runs.

The return to fast ground looks sure to suit and Nayef Road does pose somewhat of a different proposition for the affair in comparison to recent runs.

Regardless of this, he still has to bounce back to form and has a bit to find on Stradivarius.

Trainer, Ian Williams, has a solid Doncaster record with a 20% strike rate here across the last 5 seasons and is 2 from 6 here this season.

The Grand Visir made the step up from being a solid handicap performer to Group racing in last years renewal of the Doncaster Cup and ran well to finish 3rd, albeit 7 lengths behind eventual winner, Spanish Mission.

The son of Frankel has since ran respectably back down in Listed and Handicap company however last time out finished 3rd of 4 in the Lonsdale Cup, 7 lengths down and no match for Spanish Mission and Stradivarius.

That form ultimately looks to hold him and leaves him with plenty to find on Stradivarius, despite the return to a seemingly well suited track.

A 14 race winless run is also something that he will need to overcome here.

Sir Mark Prescott is a shrewd operator and it would be fairly out of sorts for him to throw one of his runners into a Group affair if he didn't think it had a decent chance of performing.

Big odds outsider, Alerta Roja, is out of Golden Horn, who's progeny are known for performing above average at Doncaster, boasting a 20% strike rate and 42% place rate for runners at the track.

The 3yo filly receives a big weight swing for the contest due to age and gender however Alerta Roja proved her capabilities last time out in Germany against the older horses in listed company, finishing a length 2nd (14f).

That race was a huge step up from the previous hattrick of victories recorded in handicap company and the runner now takes on Group company and the 18f trip for the first time today.

She's young and still improving with plenty of scope to become competitive at this level in the near future.

David O'Meara is yet to land a Doncaster Cup and tries his hand in this years contest with Eagles By Day.

The son of Sea The Stars was a relatively shock 14/1 winner of the Group 3 Silver Cup at York last season, bouncing back from down the field finishes in his 2 races prior.

Since that run, he has failed to land any sort of real blow at this level, including multiple length defeats to Stradivarius and co.

He was 5th in this race last year, 9.5 lengths off the pace and based off that evidence and his recent levels of performance, 16th/20 last time out, he appears out of his depth once more.