Juddmonte international: Golden Horn and Gleneagles set for duel

Silvestre De Sousa was just ten at the time.

Supporting Kinane in his view that it will the black and white silks of the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned Golden Horn that will emerge victorious shortly after 3.45pm on Wednesday is countryman Johnny Murtagh. He did eventually hit the front briefly, but Dettori was getting increasingly animated in the saddle and the filly was fighting back.

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.

Yet it was a particularly satisfying day for the proud Yorkshireman who completed a high-profile double courtesy of the Queen’s colt Recorder, ridden by the aforementioned Dettori, before Storm The Stars survived a stewards inquiry to hold onto the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes and confirm his favouritism for next month’s Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

“He looks a very straightforward, genuine horse that is sound in both mind and body”.

For 45-year-old Murtagh, who triumphed aboard the O’Brien-trained pair of Duke Of Marmalade in (2008) and Rip Van Winkle (2010), it is the form of Golden Horn he feels that puts him marginally ahead.

“I am not sure that she beat a lot at Newmarket, but she couldn’t have done it any better and we shall learn a lot more about her at York”.

“She’s certain to stay further, her dam (Barshiba) won over a mile and five furlongs”.

Just one of the races the Irishman enjoyed some magical moments in during his illustrious career was the Juddmonte international at York, winning the Group One prize on no fewer than three occasions.

To win, she needed every twist of chance to run in her favour and a perfectly judged ride by Silvestre de Sousa, but this was her day and the victory well deserved.

“We’re right up there with the fillies, improving, so why not run?”

“It’s tough to compare different horses”.

“I’ll have a chat to David”. “The pacemaker missed the kick and then he ended up too far clear”, said Gosden. Arabian Queen raced in second, as Golden Horn raced a bit keenly in third under Frankie Dettori. Frankie found it hard to settle him for the first six furlongs and he gassed himself out.

“I’ve had a 100 good years in the game but this is one of the best days of them”, he joked.

The owners of Gleneagles are believed to be considering withdrawing the superstar horse from the Juddmonte international Stakes after rain fell on the York Racecourse track yesterday.

“But take nothing away from the filly – she’s very good”.

“We felt that the slightly easy ground at the Curragh didn’t suit him and you could tell at halfway that he was in trouble”. There will be no stamina issues with Golden Horn. Dual winner Treve is 7/4 from 9/4.

The Group 1 contest had been billed as the race of the season, and in many ways it delivered despite the bitter anti-climax provided by the withdrawal of Gleneagles.

“The ground is not the way we would like it. We’ll wait and see”. It’s soft in places and it wouldn’t be fair on him.

“We shall try and have as many runners as possible and hopefully bag a few winners along the way”.