Tag Archive for: Goodwood

Field Of Gold headlines 11 possibles for Sussex test

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Field Of Gold is the undoubted star attraction among 11 confirmations for the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday.

John and Thady Gosden’s latest superstar colt has followed an almost identical path to his brilliant sire Kingman so far this season, with a narrow defeat in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket followed by devastating victories in the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Kingman took on and beat his elders for the first time in the 2014 Sussex Stakes and Field Of Gold is a 4-9 favourite with Coral to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who is set to deputise in the saddle for the suspended Colin Keane.

The Gosdens and owners Juddmonte have also confirmed Lockinge hero Lead Artist and while he is not expected to take on his stablemate, Juddmonte are set to field a second runner and a potential pacemaker for Field Of Gold in the form of Qirat, who has been supplemented at a cost of £70,000.

Field Of Gold is one of five three-year-olds still in contention, with the other four all trained by Aidan O’Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has left in the French Guineas winner Henri Matisse, who was second to Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, as well as Serengeti, The Lion In Winter and Exactly from his Classic crop, while he could also call upon talented older miler Diego Velazquez.

Docklands (left) repels Rosallion at Royal Ascot
Docklands (left) repels Rosallion at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands and Richard Hannon’s Rosallion look set to renew rivalry after finishing first and second with only a nose between them in the Queen Anne last month.

The potential line-up is completed by Carl Spackler, who was a multiple Grade One winner in America for Chad Brown but was beaten into sixth place on his first start for leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher in the Queen Anne.

Illinois part of strong-looking cast for Goodwood Cup

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Gold Cup runner-up Illinois is the star name among nine confirmations for the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup.

The two-mile contest is the feature event on the opening afternoon of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday and with his Royal Ascot conqueror Trawlerman not in attendance, Illinois is the odds-on favourite to break his Group One duck for Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle handler has also left in his runaway Bahrain Trophy winner Scandinavia, who is the only three-year-old in the potential field, while in Trawlerman’s absence John and Thady Gosden could saddle the improving French Master, consistent stayer Sweet William and Military Academy.

Alan King will be encouraged to see some ease in the ground for his 2022 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan, who has not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth at ParisLongchamp in late May.

Saeed bin Suroor’s Gold Cup third Dubai Future, the Andrew Balding-trained Subsequent and Sunway from David Menuisier’s yard are the other contenders, with the latter poised for a first outing over two miles after finishing fourth in the Hardwicke Stakes last month.

Menuisier said: “He ran well at Ascot and Oisin (Murphy) felt he’d be better over further.

“He stayed a mile and three-quarters in the St Leger last year so we’re hopeful he’ll get the trip. The blinkers seemed to help him concentrate, so we’ll keep them on.”

The Pulborough-based trainer also houses an interesting contender for the Group Two Coral Vintage Stakes on the same card in the form of Goodwood Galaxy, who is owned by the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group and made a strong impression when winning on debut at Salisbury earlier this month.

“He’s really well and on Tuesday, he did a piece of work and came through it like nothing happened, so I’m very pleased,” Menuisier added.

“When you win first time out, you really only have two options, go for a novice with a 7lb penalty, or take a shot at a stakes race. These days, novices and maidens are so strong that you can easily bump into a Godolphin or a Gosden horse that turns out to be Group class, and you’re giving them weight. At least in a stakes race you know it’s a good level, but at level weights.

“Goodwood is our back garden, so we’re going there relaxed and grateful to have such a nice horse in the yard, but we’re going there to try and win.

“Glorious Goodwood is very close to my heart, more so than Royal Ascot, if I’m honest. It’s the meeting of the year where you want to go and show your colours. Training for the Goodwood Racecourse Owners Group there, it’s nearly a dream come true.”

Goodwood Galaxy is one of 18 juveniles in contention for the Vintage, with Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Brussels and Dorset, Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue and Eve Johnson Houghton’s July Stakes victor Zavateri among the leading hopes.

Group Two honours also up for grabs in the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes, which features Ralph Beckett’s dual winner Kinross, the Gosden-trained defending champion Audience and Andrew Balding’s French Guineas runner-up Jonquil.

William Buick booked for Field Of Gold at Goodwood

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William Buick will ride Field Of Gold in next week’s Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Narrowly beaten in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, John and Thady Gosden’s three-year-old has made no mistake in two subsequent starts under Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane, emulating his sire Kingman with brilliant victories in both the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With Keane currently serving a suspension after contravening the whip rules, connections needed to secure a new pilot for Field Of Gold’s next appearance – and having revealed Buick was “on the list” of potential riders two weeks ago, he has now been confirmed for the high-profile mount.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, told the PA news agency: “I think John and Thady were to talk to William yesterday to confirm his availability and it sounds like they’ve done that and he’s free to ride him, so I’d say that’s the plan.

“In fairness, until you get to within a week of the event you don’t know what other trainers and jockeys are doing, but obviously William has been able to commit now which is good.

“He’s a top-class rider and rode a Group One winner for us last October on board Kalpana, so it’s good to have him on board.”

Field Of Gold is set to head a quality Juddmonte team bound for the Sussex Downs, with fellow three-year-olds Cosmic Year and Jonquil also poised for action.

Jonquil (left) winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury
Jonquil (left) winning the Greenham Stakes at Newbury (David Davies/PA)

The Harry Charlton-trained Cosmic Year was second to Field Of Gold in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before failing to fire in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville, while Andrew Balding’s Greenham Stakes winner and French Guineas runner-up Jonquil will step back up in trip after finding the six furlongs of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot too sharp.

Field Of Gold’s Lockinge-winning stablemate Lead Artist meanwhile holds a Sussex Stakes entry, but appears unlikely to be on the Goodwood squad.

“I’d say Cosmic Year will run in the Thoroughbred Stakes, the Group Three over a mile, at the minute that’s the plan,” Mahon added.

“Jonquil worked nicely this morning and he’s a probable to run in the Lennox over seven (furlongs).

“Lead Artist is in the Sussex, but I’d say he’s more likely to wait. He won’t run against Field Of Gold I’d imagine, so I’m not sure what the plans are for him at this stage.”

Noble to Champion Walker’s Goodwood hopes

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Royal Ascot hero Noble Champion is set to lead Ed Walker’s squad into battle at next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The Lambourn handler is enjoying an excellent season, highlighted by multiple Group-race victories thanks to the exploits of not only Noble Champion but also the likes of Almaqam – who is bound of this weekend’s York Stakes – Mgheera, Scenic and Ten Bob Tony.

Walker is preparing several high-class operators for various races on the Sussex Downs and is hopeful of adding to his hitherto meagre tally at the track’s feature meeting of the year.

Ed Walker is lining up a strong team for Goodwood
Ed Walker is lining up a strong team for Goodwood (PA)

Speaking at a Goodwood-organised press visit at his yard on Tuesday, the trainer said: “Numerically we are not flying along, it just seems that way as we received a lot of good publicity following a couple of high-profile winners.

“The last month or so has been a bit bread and butter and also frustrating as we’ve had a shed load of seconds and thirds in the last fortnight.

“In our number of winners we are a bit down on last year, so the truth is we are making headlines but not adding to our total – and to date I’ve only had one winner at the big Goodwood meeting.”

Noble Champion, a surprise but impressive winner of the Jersey at the Royal meeting last month, is one of two Walker-trained entries for the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes on July 29, along with his John of Gaunt Stakes scorer Ten Bob Tony.

Ed Walker is preparing his horses for Goodwood
Ed Walker is preparing his horses for Goodwood (PA)

However, with both horses in the same ownership, they are unlikely to lock horns.

Of Noble Champion, Walker said: “He needs a good, even gallop like the one he got from Spy Chief in the Jersey, and that horse went on to run a solid race in the July Cup.

“My horse thumped Spy Chief at Ascot and we’re buzzing about him. He’s a very exciting horse.

“We also have Ten Bob Tony in the Lennox, but Noble Champion is more likely to go as he’s OK on the better ground and is in flying form.”

Scenic won the Group Three Bronte Cup at York on her penultimate start before pushing red-hot favourite Estrange all the way in Haydock’s Lancashire Oaks.

The five-year-old, who was purchased by the powerful Wathnan Racing team prior to her neck defeat on Merseyside, is also set to be part of Walker’s Goodwood-bound battalion.

Scenic (left) pushed Estrange all the way at Haydock
Scenic (left) pushed Estrange all the way at Haydock (Nigel French for The Jockey Club)

He added: “Scenic ran a massive race in the Lancashire Oaks and is heading for the Lillie Langtry.

“She didn’t get the credit she deserved in a muddling race at Haydock and I’m happy to take on the winner again. I think she will run to a higher rating in the Yorkshire Oaks than at Goodwood.”

Other planned contenders for the trainer include Celandine, who ran a race full of promise on her return from 10 months off the track when third in York’s Summer Stakes recently, and the Coventry and July Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not.

“Celandine and Balmoral Lady are both in the King George Stakes and at this point it looks more like Celandine will go there as she wants it (the ground) like a road. She has bags of speed, but just got hassled by Rage Of Bamby at York last time,” said Walker.

“The owner of Do Or Do Not is very keen to take him to the Vintage Stakes and that’s the plan as it looks like he’s crying out for seven furlongs.

“He’s bred to be a fun horse but he’s very good, and deserves to win one of these Group races.”

Goodwood and Deauville under consideration for My Cloud

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Roger Varian’s Royal Ascot winner My Cloud has further Group-race targets after being ruled out of the Summer Mile.

The four-year-old was the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot in June, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in a field of 30 to remain unbeaten this season.

He was due to return to the same track to step into Group company earlier this month, but an unsatisfactory scope put paid to that plan and he was withdrawn.

Alternative aims are now likely to be at the latter end of next month, with races both in England and across the Channel in France pencilled in.

“We had to take him out of the Summer Mile because he scoped dirty and he’s had treatment for that,” said Chris Wall, racing manager to owners KHK Racing.

“He’s still not quite ready to race yet, we had hoped he’d be ready to run in a Listed race at Pontefract this weekend, but that’s not going to be the case.

“We’re looking at races at the end of August, we’ve got in mind the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and the Prix Quincey at Deauville at about the same time.

“We hope he’ll be ready for one of those and then we’ll take it from there.”

See The Fire primed to go one better than last year at Goodwood

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Andrew Balding’s See The Fire will vie to go on better than last year in Goodwood’s Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes, with victory likely to make the Breeders’ Cup a tempting possibility at the end of the season.

The four-year-old was beaten a neck by Opera Singer when second in the Group One last season, and proved she had gone from strength to strength over the winter when winning the Middleton Stakes at York by 12 lengths in May.

Her most recent run was a fine third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, and another bid for the Nassau now looks her next step as Balding seeks to pave the way to the Breeders’ Cup.

He said: “She’s a beautifully-bred filly, by Sea The Stars, who won a Juddmonte International, out of Arabian Queen, who also won a Juddmonte International.

“She’s always looked a very smart filly. As a three-year-old, we didn’t really see the best of her until we got to the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, where she was narrowly beaten.”

Of her last run Balding, added: “We thought she ran a super race at Ascot, against the boys, in the Prince of Wales’s. She’s had a little break since then with the view to preparing her for the Nassau again, and hopefully going one better than we did last year.

“The Prince of Wales’s this year was run at a ferocious gallop and it suited the closers. In hindsight, we rode her to sit in behind Los Angeles, and focus on beating him, which left us vulnerable at the end of the race. Having said that, they’re top-class horses and we might not have beaten them whatever we’d done.

“It was still a career-best performance, and she’ll have an easier time, you’d have thought, against her own sex, in the Nassau. It’s never easy at Group One level, but she’s going there in great shape.”

The Nassau Stakes serves as a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, granting the winner an automatic fees-paid berth into the $2million contest at Del Mar in November.

“The win and you’re in incentive is very important for any owner, it certainly pushes the Breeders’ Cup to the forefront of your priorities,” Balding said of the prospect of heading to California.

“The Breeders’ Cup is a hugely important meeting worldwide, but it does come at the end of a long season so it really depends on how she is training at the end of the season, and what happens between now and then, but it’s very much on the shortlist for our autumn campaign.

“It would be lovely to think one day we would have a horse good enough to be competitive in a Breeders’ Cup race, we’ve had a couple of runners so far but no joy, so it’s something very much that we are striving to achieve.”

Henri Matisse ready to renew Field Of Gold rivalry at Goodwood

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Aidan O’Brien has confirmed Henri Matisse on course for a rematch with his Royal Ascot conqueror Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

O’Brien’s Wootton Bassett colt ended last season in victory at the Breeders’ Cup and struck Classic gold in the French 2,000 Guineas before finding only John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold too good in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

The Ballydoyle handler said: “He’s being trained for the Sussex and is going good so far. We’re very happy with him and he is progressing.”

Also a runner-up at the Royal meeting was Illinois, in the Gold Cup behind Trawlerman, and he too is set for a trip to the Sussex Downs, where he could be joined by an emerging stablemate.

O’Brien said: “At the moment he (Illinois) is going for the Goodwood Cup and it’s possible that Scandinavia could go there as well.

“We were very happy with his run in Ascot. We’d prefer he had another year before he went there (for the Gold Cup), but that is the way it worked out.”

O’Brien also outlined plans for Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad, who will be seen next in top-level action at the Curragh.

He said: “The plan is to go for the Phoenix Stakes (August 9). That is the way we are thinking at the moment.”

Appleby eyeing Goodwood goal for Big Mojo

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Big Mojo will “more than likely” head to Goodwood next for the King George Qatar Stakes following his near miss in the July Cup.

Mick Appleby’s stable star bounced right back to his best at the weekend when he was just run out of it close home by 66-1 outsider No Half Measures.

Big Mojo is now likely to revert to five furlongs at a track he won the Molecomb Stakes at last year before he heads to York for the Nunthorpe.

“He’s come out of the race well. We were gutted but chuffed with how he ran, he ran an absolute blinder,” said Appleby.

“Tom (Marquand) thought he had everything covered, he just wasn’t expecting that one to come from out there!

“He’s shown he’s back to his best and I think he saw the trip out, he just didn’t see that one coming, when he did he tried to fight back and given a few more strides I think he’d have probably got back up.

“She wasn’t pulling away from him and I just think he was caught a bit by surprise.

“I think it will more than likely be Goodwood next. There is a possibility of the Maurice de Gheest (at Deauville) but I think it’s more likely we’ll go to Goodwood and then on to York.

“You’d like to think he’d be hard to beat at Goodwood, he’s won there before.”

Facteur Cheval to swerve Sussex Stakes at Goodwood

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There will be no visit to the Qatar Goodwood Festival for Facteur Cheval this year, with immediate plans on hold as he recovers from his Royal Ascot exertions.

Jerome Reynier’s six-year-old has contested the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for the past two years, taking the runner-up spot behind Paddington in 2023 before finishing third to Notable Speech 12 months ago.

Facteur Cheval’s name is among the entries for this year’s race once again, but a third visit to the Sussex Downs has been ruled out by connections, who are prepared to bide their time after learning little from their Prince of Wales’s Stakes experiment up in distance at the Royal meeting.

Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor International, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber, said: “We had planned to run him in Germany, but the race and trip at Ascot took too much out of him and we’re going to have wait a while and figure out what we do next with him.

“I don’t think he will be coming back in the next month or so, and I think it could take a couple of months to find the right race.

“Also where he is trained near Marseille, they have had a real heatwave there so it’s been really hard for Jerome to train those horses and we’ve got three horses there who are kind of in limbo right now.”

Irwin added: “We’ll have to just wait for something in the fall, we haven’t given up the idea of running 10 furlongs but that last race just didn’t work out well for him at all, we didn’t learn much.

“We’ll take it race by race and then head back to the Middle East again over the winter as he does enjoy it there.”

Palmer can consider nice options for promising Laureate Crown

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Hugo Palmer’s Laureate Crown could be set for bigger things after a regal performance on debut at Ascot.

The Fitri Hay-owned son of Victor Ludorum made smooth progress under a typically patient Jamie Spencer ride to register a taking opening victory in what looked a useful novice event.

Connections are now eyeing a step into stakes company, with Goodwood’s Coral Vintage Stakes (July 29) that Palmer won with his Classic hero Galileo Gold in 2015 a possible option alongside a move up to a mile for Salisbury’s Stonehenge Stakes on August 13.

Palmer said: “He was only just ready to start so overcame greenness and I particularly thought Jamie Spencer’s default position suits a horse like that so nicely because the horse was allowed time to find his feet and relax into the race.

“He wasn’t put under any pressure and if it happened it happened and if it didn’t there would be another day, so I was delighted to see it all come together. The Vintage has to now come into consideration, (but) he’s quite a big horse, so I don’t know if Goodwood is necessarily the perfect spot for him and he might also be ready for a mile relatively soon.

“The Stonehenge at Salisbury might be more suitable, but we’ll just have to see.

“You would hope he is up to running in stakes company and being such a big horse I hope there’s much more to come from him.”

Seagulls Eleven has regained his consistency
Seagulls Eleven has regained his consistency (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

Although Laureate Crown’s Qatar Goodwood Festival participation is still to be decided, one who will be in action on the Sussex Downs is his stablemate Seagulls Eleven.

Owned by the Two Plus Three Two Plus Four syndicate which includes Premier League footballers James Milner and Danny Welbeck, the three-year-old chased home Charlie Appleby’s Opera Bello in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last week.

That second-place effort follows a respectable run in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the Manor House handler now pointing his charge towards the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (August 1).

“He seems to be back on track and he just met a good one on Thursday, I think, but I was delighted with the way he ran,” continued Palmer.

“I would have thought the Thoroughbred Stakes would be an obvious spot for him.”

Goodwood assignment pencilled in for Scenic

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Scenic will head to the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood after pushing Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe contender Estrange all the way at Haydock.

Ed Walker’s five-year-old was beaten only a neck by David O’Meara’s stable star when having her first outing for new owners Wathnan Racing in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks, with her handler hailing her consistency.

The duo could clash again in the Yorkshire equivalent on the Knavesmire next month, but first Scenic will head to the Sussex Downs on August 2, as she embarks on what could be the final stages of her career.

“I was thrilled with her and very proud of her, it was a huge run in new ownership,” said Walker.

“She heads to the Lillie Langtry now. I was devastated she was beaten, but Richard Brown (Wathnan’s racing adviser) was delighted as it means she won’t have a penalty at Goodwood.

“She’s a real star and a yard favourite. She’s helped fly the flag for us for a few years and has been seriously consistent since winning the Galtres Stakes at York, it was almost like that was a turning point in her career. I don’t know why, but since then has barely put a foot wrong and if anything is improving.

“I’m excited about her and the three races for her really are the Lillie Langtry, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de Royallieu. I imagine they will be the last three runs of her career, she’s a star.”

William Buick ‘on the list’ for vacant Field Of Gold ride

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William Buick is “on the list” of potential riders who could partner Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood later this month.

Narrowly denied by Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket when partnered by Kieran Shoemark, the John and Thady Gosden-trained grey has made no mistake in two subsequent outings under Juddmonte’s new retained rider Colin Keane, dominating his rivals in the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, with Keane ruled out of the entirety of the Goodwood Festival after picking up a 14-day suspension at Sandown last week for transgressing the whip rules, Field Of Gold will require another change of jockey on July 30.

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon insists no final decision will be made until closer to the time, but told the PA news agency on Saturday: “I’m sure he (Buick) is on the list, but we’ll have to wait and see whether Godolphin have a runner in the race and everything else nearer the time.

“All being well we’re heading to Goodwood – that is plan A. I saw the horse myself earlier this week, he looked in good shape and seems to be doing well.

“We’ll make a decision on who rides him closer to the time.”

John Gosden rates a Buick a possible pick, although he did joke that Frankie Dettori had put in a request for the ride from his American base.

When asked whether Buick was the most likely pilot, Gosden said: “Probably, yes, but I got a picture from Saratoga of a man lighting a picture in a Catholic church and underneath it said ‘please can I have the ride’!

“That’s a joke! Someone like William (it could be), but we haven’t got near the race yet. You know this game, we’ll just wait.”

Conditions key to Rosallion’s Sussex Stakes run

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Richard Hannon will be led by ground conditions as he decides the next move of his star miler Rosallion.

The four-year-old was most recently seen finishing second by a nose in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, prior to which he was third in Lockinge when making his long-awaited return to action.

The Sussex Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival is under discussion as his next outing, but the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville is also on Hannon’s radar and the going will ultimately be a key factor in the decision.

The trainer said: “Rosallion is in great form. We aren’t 100 per cent sure where we are going to go.

“Probably the Sussex, but maybe the Prix Jacques Le Marois. It’s all ground dependent.

“He came out of his last race absolutely no problem at all. I think he thinks he won.”

Should Rosallion head to the Sussex he could cross paths with John and Thady Gosden’s Field Of Gold, winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse, triumphant in the French 2000 Guineas, is also present in the line up, alongside stablemate The Lion In Winter.

Docklands, who prevailed in the Queen Anne, has stood his ground for Harry Eustace and Jerome Reynier’s Facteur Cheval, placed in the race for the past two seasons, is the sole French-trained horse on the entries list after the forfeit stage.

Nassau now looks set to be next for Cercene

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Joe Murphy is now favouring heading to Goodwood with his Coronation Stakes winner Cercene over the Irish Oaks.

In the immediate aftermath of the popular success at Royal Ascot, connections raised the possibility of supplementing the diminutive filly for the Curragh Classic.

However, Murphy’s enthusiasm to step up half a mile in trip appears to have cooled and the Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood looks favourite, followed by the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Festival.

“She came out of Ascot very well and we are very happy with her,” said Murphy, whose filly was a 33-1 winner at the showpiece meeting.

“We were thinking of going to the Juddmonte Irish Oaks with her, but we might be leaning towards the Nassau now and then from there we would definitely be looking to go on to the Matron Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival.

“The reaction to her winning the Coronation was unbelievable. I got over a thousand texts. I think people got a great kick out of it. As I said before, it was liking winning an All-Ireland medal. I waited 50 years to get the first Group One but the thing is, when you’ve gotten one, you want two, isn’t that it?

“Cercene is continuing to improve it seems, which is what you like to see, so we’ll look forward to what is to come.”

Goldie cool on idea of Goodwood for American Affair

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Jim Goldie is minded to miss Goodwood and wait for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York with his King Charles III Stakes hero American Affair.

The Royal Ascot hero is the third generation of the family Goldie has trained, with American Affair’s dam, Classy Anne, by Orientor whom Goldie guided with great success.

American Affair was, though, Goldie’s first ever Group One winner after several near-misses and he now has more big targets in his sights for the Paul Mulrennan-ridden five-year-old.

American Affair gets a well-deserved pat from Paul Mulrennan
American Affair gets a well-deserved pat from Paul Mulrennan (John Walton/PA)

“It’s just started to sink in. He’s come out of the race well and he’s been out on the gallops yesterday and today,” said Goldie on Sunday.

“The stars aligned, but that is quite often the case with good horses. I still don’t think he’s quite as good as Orientor was, but I probably had him early enough in my career and I learned a lot from him. Fortunately for me we kept him an entire which looks very shrewd now!

“We learned a lot from the likes of him, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. I’m looking forward to seeing where this horse will peak.”

Looking to the future Goldie does not believe Goodwood’s downhill five furlongs is totally suitable in the King George Stakes.

The King with winning rider Paul Mulrennan
The King with winning rider Paul Mulrennan (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“Five furlongs up a hill at Ascot is the perfect fit for him, I always thought it might be, so I’m not sure Goodwood will suit him going downhill,” he said.

“Otherwise we will wait for York and the Nunthorpe where we might have to take on a two-year-old or two which will be interesting.”

Even further afield, American Affair now has an all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup to look forward to.

“We’ll have to have a serious think about the Breeders’ Cup if they are going to pay. I can’t think of any other horse trained in Scotland to have run at it!” said Goldie.