Frankie hits the right note as Stradivarius claims Royal Ascot's Gold Cup

John Gosden's colt denied the Aga Khan's French raider Vizirabad in a dramatic close-quarter finish after a two and a half mile test of endurance.

Jessica Harrington's Torcedor came home third after leading for much of the race, while Aidan O'Brien's Order of St George, seeking to regain the title he narrowly lost 12 months ago, finished outside the places in fourth.

Dettori treated the crowd to his fourth flying dismount of the week as his quest for ending the meeting as top jockey for the first time since 2004 continued.

It's his sixth career win in the showpiece Gold Cup, while the Queen presented him with a racing cloth emblazoned with 60 - the 47-year-old's latest landmark.

"Frankie keeps telling me it's his sixth but I told him not to forget the horse that got him there," said Gosden.

"He tells me he's going to ride until he's 60 now, which I take with mixed reactions!

"He's as fit as anything and he's riding with hunger. He is really enjoying his riding and told me the other day he was inspired by Mike Smith winning the Triple Crown at 52, so he's not going anywhere."

Stradivarius will now look to stamp down his position as the leading stayer in the Qipco British Champions Series with a defence of his Goodwood Cup title next month.

And then all roads will surely lead to Champions Day back at Ascot and the Long Distance Cup, won last year by Order of St George.

"That was a stunningly good race," added Gosden. "The Gold Cup can be a procession at times but not that one.

"It was a proper finish, I thought we'd be gobbled up but our fella stuck his neck out and went for it. He's a sweet little horse and we call him our Mighty Mouse."

Sportsbeat 2018