Gret gets going for Gos
JOHN GOSDEN’S long-term scheming proved spot on as Gretchen landed the Group 2 DFS Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster yesterday.
But his short-term planning with Derby hero Golden Horn is giving him nightmares.
A deluge denied Golden Horn a run in the King George at Ascot and further rain helped sink his unbeaten record when switched to the Juddmonte international at York last month.
He was unable to cope with Arabian Queen on the Knavesmire, allowing that great all-rounder David Elsworth to add another Group One prize to his impressive CV.
This time Elsworth was left disappointed as Melodious, another of his talented three-year-old fillies, battled for Group Two glory against Gretchen, who prevailed by a neck.
“I suppose I’ll get a prod from David in the bar,” smiled Gosden, who intends to run Golden Horn in tomorrow’s Irish Champion Stakes provided the ground is no worse than good to soft.
Gretchen was given a proper ride by 41-year-old Rab Havlin, who was chalking up his sixth Group Two. He later completed a 20-1 double for the yard on unbeaten California in the Crown Hotel Fillies’ Handicap.
“Gretchen is a big filly that takes a bit of time to get into gear – she’s got a massive frame and there’s still improvement to come,” said Havlin.
Roger Varian’s Realtra landed the Group Three Sceptre Stakes. The 25-1 outsider provided a third Group Three victory for Jack Mitchell, who was given a massive eightday careless riding ban for drifting across his rivals.