Frankie Dettori guided Stradivarius to a second successive Gold Cup victory at Royal Ascot as the in-form jockey made it four wins from four on Ladies’ Day.
The John Gosden-trained even favourite pulled clear to see off runner-up Dee Ex Bee with Master Of Reality in third.
It was a seventh Gold Cup triumph for Dettori, who was labelled a “superstar” after his double success on Wednesday.
“What an amazing horse he is. He is a horse for the big occasion and I love him dearly,” said the Italian.
“I am only nervous because the people care so much about this horse. It’s a wonderful story. Every time he runs he delivers.”
Stradivarius is now on a seven-race winning streak, with his last defeat coming on Champions Day in 2017.
Dettori led with Turgenev in the fifth race of the day, the Britannia Stakes, but was pipped near the finish by Harry Bentley on Biometric.
Dettori kicked off his winning streak by guiding A’Ali to a narrow victory from Ventura Rebel in the Norfolk Stakes, with Dubai Station thirdas favourite and early leader Sunday Sovereign fell away to finish eighth.
“It brings back some great memories,” said Dettori, who previously worked with A’Ali’s trainer Simon Crisford at Godolphin. “I’m really delighted. He’s been great to me through my career.”
He then delivered his second win of the day with Sangarius in the Hampton Court Stakes as he led Sir Michael Stoute’s charge home by two and a quarter lengths from 7-2 favourite Fox Chairman.
The 48-year-old completed his hat-trick on Gosden’s 4-1-priced Star Catcher in the Ribblesdale Stakes, beating 7-4 favourite Fleeting by a length and a half, with Sparkle Roll in third.
“Having the first three winners on Gold Cup and Ladies’ Day, it can’t get any better than this,” added Dettori, who won all seven races on the card at Ascot in September 1996.
But it did, and Dettori landed his 66th race win at Ascot to claim the Gold Cup.
Dee Ex Bee led for the majority of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, with Dettori and Stradivarius appearing to be boxed in.
Once a gap opened up the five-year-old took his chance to eventually pass the post a length to the good and become the first horse to win successive Gold Cups at Ascot since Yeats completed four in a row in 2009.
The Mark Johnston-trained Dee Ex Bee rallied to finish a nose ahead of 66-1 shot Master Of Reality in third.
