Horn and Gleneagles to clash in Juddmonte

It’s being billed as the clash of the season: Guineas hero Gleneagles vs Derby superstar Golden Horn in Wednesday’s Juddmonte global Stakes at York. “I’ve been boring people with the basic observation that before this race, no one knew whether the three-year-old fillies were as good, better or whatever, than the three-year-old colts as they’d never met”, he said.

It’s the leading miler against the top middle-distance colt, but this is no two-horse race.

But Dettori has no doubts about unbeaten Golden Horn.

Victory in the Group 1 will help propel her sire Dubawi further into the lead in this year’s sire standings – this morning the Darley resident had a buffer of £612,573 over his nearest rival and reigning champion Galileo, whose Juddmonte global representative Gleneagles was withdrawn earlier in the afternoon owing to the ground.

“It is a question of if Gleneagles will stay, so I would go for the favourite as he is proven over the track and distance, his stamina is assured and he is a straightforward horse”.

DERBY victor Golden Horn is the star attraction on a stellar card at York tomorrow – which Leeds owner Andy Taylor is optimistic of beginning with a bang.

Although seen in many quarters as a two-horse showdown, there is every chance one of the supporting cast could gatecrash the party, such is the quality of the field.

Owner Jeff Smith has previously enjoyed great days on the Knavesmire thanks to his iconic horses Persian Punch and Lochsong; an overcome trainer David Elsworth masterminded the career of the legendary steeplechaser Desert Orchid who lost the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup to a 100-1 outsider and Brazilian-born de Sousa now stands on the verge of his first jockeys’ championship.

Jack Naylor finished the strongest at the Curragh, while a change of headgear may extract a little more from Curvy, but Covert Love is the filly with the most progressive profile, having won her last four races in increasingly stronger company. As a result, a field of seven entered the starting gate, with Golden Horn going off as the heavy favorite.

The Arc at Longchamp in October seems likely to be Golden Horn’s final race before stud, with the Champion Stakes a
possible alternative if anything goes wrong.

He said: “It is a fantastic race and one that will be something special”. “He’s a much better horse on fast ground”.

“It should be a very straightforward race as there will be a good pace”.

“I have huge respect for Golden Horn, Gleneagles and The Grey Gatsby. Put it this way, I’ll be putting a padlock on the door”.

“It is a very close call”.

Frankie Dettori is sure that the brilliant Golden Horn can get even better.