GOSDEN’S HORN GOING DOUBTS
JOHN GOSDEN will take an anxious walk around Ascot this morning after yesterday’s deluge threatened to scupper Golden Horn’s bid to make history.
Golden Horn is odds-on favourite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the trainer is worried that the unbeaten colt might struggle on testing ground.
Andre Fabre has already pulled out French hope Flintshire because of the rain.
Gosden didn’t go to Ascot yesterday, but will certainly have listened carefully to what William Buick, the rider of stable mate Eagle Top, had to say.
Ascot is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Grundy-Bustino “Race Of The Century” in the King George.
And Wall Of Fire looked hot stuff as he defied the slashing rain to steam home in the same race Grundy won on his debut 41 years ago.
He was sent off 5-2 second favourite for the Crocker Bulteel Stakes for unraced juveniles and indicated his 270,000 gns price tag might be money well spent.
Champion jockey Richard Hughes had him smartly into his stride, quickly assumed the lead and defied all Jamie Spencer’s efforts to pass him on Justice Law.
“If he’s half as good as Grundy, we’re doing all right,” smiled winning trainer Richard Hannon, who was completing a quick 34-1 double.
“This is a nice horse and we’ll look after him. He’s a tough horse to do that first time of asking. He’s got a lovely attitude.
“The owners of this horse were down to see Ivawood work this morning and he worked super.”
Ivawood, third to Gleneagles in the English and Irish Guineas, disappointed at the Royal meeting but will be taking on the brilliant Muhaarar amongst others in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on August 9.
The softened ground and extra furlong certainly suited Marenko, who made most and drew well clear of her rivals in the opening John Guest Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
Hughes, who had finished last on her when she made her bow at Newmarket, was oozing confidence a long way out.
Ralph Beckett has trained plenty of highclass fillies, but after Evita Peron’s game lastgasp victory over Solar Magic in the listed Valiant Stakes, he said: “I wish I had a few more like her. I’ve been praying for ground like this.”