Gleneagles is to take on Golden Horn at York next week in what will be one of the most keenly anticipated clashes of recent years. The surprising turn of events is the result of wet weather across the Channel, where Gleneagles was expected to be running this weekend.
His trainer, Aidan O’Brien, had picked the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday as Gleneagles’ next target, in the hope of keeping his star colt to races over a mile. But the three-year-old’s preference is for fast ground and that now appears an impossibility at the Normandy track, where the going is already “soft” with 30mm of rain forecast to hit the course over the next two days.
“The chances of him running in the Prix Jacques le Marois are unfortunately fading with the forecast,” O’Brien said in a statement released on Tuesday. “I’ve always considered Gleneagles a true miler but he needs good, fast ground to be seen at his best. Therefore York will probably be his next race, as we are running out of options with him. It’s a very sporting gesture by his owners.”
Lining up in the Juddmonte International next Wednesday will require Gleneagles to step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time. Golden Horn is already a Group One winner at that distance, having landed the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown a month ago, which is one reason why the Derby winner is heavily favoured by bookmakers for next week’s race.
William Hill was first to react to the news, installing Gleneagles at 3-1 while pushing Golden Horn to 8-13 from 4-9. Time Test, Intilaaq and The Grey Gatsby are others expected to take part.
O’Brien’s decision is the latest change in plan for Gleneagles, who has not been seen in public for almost two months, since he was a ready winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. That took his tally for the year to three Group One wins from three starts but he missed the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood because O’Brien felt the ground, described as “good” on the day, would have too much give in it.
Racing fans must now hope that York can provide a faster surface for next week. The signs are encouraging, as the going there is currently described as “good to firm” after a dry week, with mostly fine and dry weather for the next seven days. There is 5mm of rain in the forecast for Friday but that would simply save groundstaff from the need to irrigate the course.
Territories, runner-up to Gleneagles in the 2,000 Guineas, is the new favourite for Sunday’s Marois at 5-4 with Paddy Power. The Richard Hannon-trained pair of Toormore and Estidhkaar are next in the betting at 7-2 and 4-1.
Consort, who was third behind Gleneagles at Royal Ascot, has been sold to race in Hong Kong, following Peacock and Christophermarlowe, who are already there after showing ability as three-year-olds in Britain this season. Consort was an impressive Listed winner at Sandown in May and was last seen chasing home Intilaaq at Newbury, that winner having since followed up in a Group Three.
“It’s never easy, making these decisions,” said Harry Herbert of Highclere Thoroughbreds, which owned Consort. “These proven horses are now extremely valuable and sometimes the money is so good that you can’t simply say ‘on we go’. There were 12 shareholders in Consort and hopefully they may now reinvest.
“Consort has been sold to a client of [the trainer] John Moore and I imagine he’ll be aimed at the Hong Kong Derby. It’s an incredibly wealthy, vibrant part of the racing world and there is huge prize money and prestige to go with it.”
Herbert pointed out that Highclere had already provided Hong Kong with some star horses over the years, having sold Housemaster, Tiber, Dominant and Collection to race there. All won Group Ones and Collection won the 2009 Hong Kong Derby for Moore.
