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| Sumita Pawar |
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The Gr.1 Gold Cup has seen a recent trend of 4YOs performing well, and the upcoming race on Thursday features three intriguing contenders. With the absence of top horses like Stradivarius and Kyprios, this year's Gold Cup is one of the most open in years, favouring young stayers.
Since 2012, nine different horses have won the race, with most coming out of their Classic season, making Eldar Eldarov a strong contender with his Gr.2 Queen's Vase win and Gr.1 St Leger success.
Eldar Eldarov: The Rising Star
After a notable performance in the Gr.2 Yorkshire Cup last month, where he returned under a penalty, Eldar Eldarov displayed the qualities of a genuine "Cup" horse, which has excited trainer Roger Varian as he looks forward to having him join the ranks of Alpinista and other remarkable members of Kirsten Rausing's dynasty.
“The Gold Cup is one of those iconic races, it's got masses of history and there is always something nice about having a good staying horse,” he said. “A horse like Eldar Eldarov might be in the camp for two or three years to come yet and as we have seen with some of those good staying horses, they can capture the public imagination as well.”
“He's got a long way to go before he's held in any similar regard to any of those top staying horses, but he has won a Queen's Vase, he's won a St Leger and his profile is on the rise, I think,” Varian added. “It's exciting to get him back out and back to Ascot, he obviously won at the Royal meeting last year and it is very exciting to have such a strong contender for the Gold Cup.”
Three promising 4-year-olds are set to compete in the Gr.1 Gold Cup, a race that has favoured young stayers in recent years.
Eldar Eldarov, who won the Gr.2 Queen's Vase and G1 St Leger, is a strong contender after a notable performance in the Gr.2 Yorkshire Cup.
Trainer Roger Varian is excited to have him join the ranks of other remarkable horses. Courage Mon Ami and Emily Dickinson are also in the running, despite lacking obvious credentials for the race. Coltrane and Trueshan are seasoned stayers, but the ground conditions may pose a challenge.
Yibir and Lone Eagle are class acts who have yet to go this distance. The Gr.2 Norfolk Stakes is as strong as the Coventry this year, with Elite Status, American Rascal, Noche Magica, Devious, and No Nay Mets all vying for the win.