Saturday's G1 Epsom Derby winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was reported to be in good form by trainer John Gosden the morning after his Classic score. The conditioner noted the Anthony Oppenheimer colorbearer–who answered stamina questions in resounding fashion over 1 1/2 miles Saturday–will revert to 10 furlongs for the G1 Coral-Eclipse July 4, while Derby second and stablemate Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) will target the G1 Irish Derby June 27.
“He's not in the Irish Derby; it was something we discussed at the supplementary stage that we wouldn't put him in,” said Gosden of Golden Horn. “The Eclipse in July looks like the direction we'll go and then possibly on to York for the Juddmonte [International]. He's come out of the race well and it is fair to say the Eclipse is uppermost in my mind.”
Gosden, who was winning his second Derby after Benny The Dip in 1997, added, “It was a great race, run very strongly, and it was a clean affair. I thought the Dante form [where Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs were one-two] would be confirmed. I thought Jack Hobbs was a little unbalanced, but he learned a lot from York, whereas the other horse is more the finished article.”
Gosden said he would like to see Golden Horn race beyond three.
“It would be wonderful if Golden Horn was kept in training next year,” he said. “The owner is very sporting and it would be my wish to do so. I think it is great when you get good 3-year-olds racing at four.”
Gosden, who formerly trained in the U.S., was also full of praise for Saturday's Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile).
“I thought it was brilliant,” he said. “When I saw they had left him in front, I thought 'he is going to kill them.' They just let him float along. It is unbelievable for American racing. I was there for the last one in 1978; although I was young it was great to see a horse do it.”
“What a tough horse he is,” Gosden added. “He had a tough Kentucky Derby then he ran in the slop at Pimlico. The horse must be made of iron. Bob Baffert has done the most brilliant job with the horse.”
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