Breeders’ Cup Turf the final target for outstanding Golden Horn

Golden Horn headlines a strong team from Britain and Ireland given pre-entries at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland next week.

The John Gosden-trained colt has won the Derby, Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe this season and will bid to end his racing career with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Gosden said: “Golden Horn worked this morning and we were happy with how he worked. He worked on the long gallop and Frankie Dettori was pleased with him.

“The plan is for him to head out on Saturday, all being well. He has held his condition extremely well. He put the weight back on to what he was before the Arc five days after the race.

“He has some constitution and that is the one thing that gives us hope racing this late in the year with him.”

Roger Charlton’s impressive Royal Ascot winner Time Test is primed for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, having pleased in a recent racecourse gallop under Ryan Moore at Wolverhampton.

Charlton said: “Time Test is in a good place at the moment – I am very happy with him. He had a gallop at Wolverhampton last week, jumping out of the gates and spinning round the tight turns under Ryan Moore, which was highly satisfactory.

Enough class

“I am very excited to have another Breeders’ Cup runner with a lively chance, and if he gets a good draw I think that he is capable of running very well. He he has enough class and speed to be effective over a mile and I think that the turns at Keeneland will suit him.”

Current champion Karakontie is back to defend his crown for soon-to-retire trainer Jonathan Pease and the Niarchos family. Also in the field are the Andre Fabre-trained duo of Esoterique and Make Believe.

Dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles has been entered in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt, and is one of nine possible runners at the meeting from Ireland, with his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Found in the Turf, second to Golden Horn at Leopardstown and also runner-up in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

O’Brien has War Envoy in the mile races on turf and dirt, with Waterloo Bridge, Shogun, Hit It A Bomb and Alice Springs in contention for the two-year-old contests.

David Wachman could run star filly Legatissimo, who is likely to start favourite for the Filly and Mare Turf.

Postponed will miss the Breeders’ Cup Turf after scoping dirty following a workout yesterday morning.

The King George hero, who was generally available at 6-1 for the Grade One at Keeneland on Saturday week, now be aimed for the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March by trainer Roger Varian.

Cheltenham has announced a number of changes to the forthcoming season, including a gap of 40 minutes between races at the Festival in March.

Officials have been granted permission by the British Horseracing Authority to extend the break between races in March from 35 minutes to ease pressure on those working with the horses to get them into the pre-parade ring in plenty of time, as well as allowing racegoers more chance to use the facilities.