Golden Horn, Gleneagles clash in ‘race of the year’
York’s Ebor Festival gets off to an explosive start on Wednesday with trainer John Gosden’s Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn taken on by Aidan O'Brien’s exceptional miler Gleneagles.
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The pair cross swords in the Group One Juddmonte International, with Golden Horn odds-on favourite to extend his unbeaten record to six.
The equine star that has helped shoot jockey Frankie Dettori back into the big time has emerged as the outstanding middle distance performer of this season’s crop of three-year-old’s in Europe.
He followed up his dazzling display in the Derby with success in the Eclipse Stakes, where he got the better of the one-year-older The Grey Gatsby.
He was then all set to run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes only to be withdrawn by Gosden hours before the off due to unsuitably soft going.
Dettori believes Golden Horn can come out on top on what is arguably his colt’s toughest examination so far.
“I still think he is improving,” the Italian told The Yorkshire Post newspaper this week.
“The horse is in good shape and has won at York before.
“It’s a great line-up with a dual Guineas winner in Gleneagles, The Grey Gatsby, Time Test, who I rode to victory at Royal Ascot, and the Australian horse, Criterion.
“It’s an absolute cracker, possibly the race of the year.”
Dettori added: “The races are won with the revs up and at a high tempo. Golden Horn will have to be at his best.”
Gleneagles was rerouted to York in search of his favoured fast ground after an intended run at Deauville in France at the weekend was foiled by the unpredictable Normandy weather.
With trainer’s son Joseph back on board the big question mark over Gleneagles (3-1 second favourite) is stamina as he tackles ten furlongs for the very first time.
He has proved himself a well above average miler with wins in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Irish equivalent at the Curragh and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Grey Gatsby is down to have another crack at Golden Horn with bookmakers offering last year’s French Derby winner at around 10-1 fourth favourite.
Also in the line-up is Time Test, ridden by Dettori to win at Royal Ascot last time out and third favourite at 5-1.
