Stradivarius has been declared for the Group Two Doncaster Cup on day three of the St Leger meeting in what looks to be a superb days racing with three Group races on the card.
The five year old is unbeaten in his last nine races and was last seen having a challenger pass him back in October 2017 on British Champions Day but John Gosden's superstar stayer is a surprise call up for this event.
Stradivarius in the last two seasons has scooped the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million and was sure not be seen again until Ascot where he would round off his season in style but the horse has come out of the Lonsdale Cup at York in fine fettle and is now looking to extend his unbeaten run to 10.
The five year old will take on five rivals in the marathon contest on Friday with a fourth battle with rival Dee Ex Bee well and truly on the cards in which Gosden's horse has beat him every time.
Mark Johnston's four year old colt has now finished second to his nemesis on numerous occasions including the Gold Cup at Ascot, Goodwood Cup and York’s Lonsdale Cup.
Willie Mullins’ Max Dynamite who was second to stablemate Thomas Hobson 12 months ago in this contest, is one of two Irish runners, the Emmet Mullins-trained Sneaky Getaway completes the raiders from across the pond.
Barsanti and Cleonte make up the rest of the field for Roger Varian and Andrew Balding with Aidan O'Brien taking out his only runner in the race at the latest declaration stage with Cypress Creek now a non runner.
Another big contest on the Friday comes in the Group Two Flying Childers Stakes where a huge juvenile clash between Simon Crisford's A'Ali and Joseph O'Brien's Alligator Alley rounds off a great day of black type racing.
O'Brien's two year old has been highly progressive in his last three runs and last time out won a good Listed contest at the Ebor meeting that will set him up nicely for this clash A'Ali.
Crisford's runner has already won two Group Two races with the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and then in thePrix Robert Papin over in France.
It is set to be a great Friday of racing at Doncaster with plenty of stars on show and the Sceptre Stakes sets the tone for the day with the Group Three contest kicking off the days play.