Keeneland preview: Breeders’ Cup Turf (20.50)
Published:
David Metcalf | October 31, 2015
Golden Horn looks a worthy favourite to cap off a remarkable career with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland (20.50).
The John Gosden trained three-year-old has won seven of his eight starts, and has been described by jockey Frankie Dettori as the best he has ever ridden.
After impressively winning the Investec Derby at Epsom and following up in good-style against his elders in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, Golden tasted defeat for the first time when runner-up in the Juddmonte International at York.
However, Golden Horn clearly ran below par that day and bounced back to his best when winning the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The son of Cape Cross has since gone on to register an impressive success in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, overcoming a wide draw to beat Flintshire by two lengths.
Golden Horn is clearly a class act, and his ability to win from the front or come from off the pace is a big plus.
Although not ideally drawn in stall one, Dettori is the master at getting an early position and Golden Horn should simply prove far too classy for his rivals if getting a smooth passage.
Found to provide Golden Horn tough test once more
Found has caught the eye in her last two starts and looks the obvious danger to the selection.
The Aidan O’Brien trained filly posted a solid effort when a one length runner-up to Golden Horn in the Irish Champion Stakes, and got no luck in-running whatsoever behind that rival when ninth of 17 in the Arc.
Found did well to be beaten just five lengths in the latter and finished with plenty of petrol left in the tank.
The daughter of Galileo was then given a poor tactical ride by Ryan Moore last time out at Ascot when runner-up in the Group 1 Champion Stakes.
After being held-up too far off the pace, Found was forced to weave her way through the field and stayed on strongly to be beaten just 1 1/4 lengths by Fascinating Rock.
In the circumstances it was a fine effort, and if ridden more positively Found looks capable of giving Golden Horn most to think about.
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Check out our Breeders’ Cup archive.
Coral’s top tip: Golden Horn brings by far the strongest for into the contest and rates a solid bet to round off his career with another victory
