Golden Horn has more to do to become a superstar

RACINGPOST
By Sam Walker 8:15AM 5 OCT 2015

WORLD CLASS: an analysis of the international scene according to Racing Post Ratings

GOLDEN HORN was the underdog on Sunday. It didn't matter that he went into the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as the highest rated racehorse in the world, or that he was the first ever horse to complete the Dante-Derby-Eclipse treble. He was up against Treve and she was the star of the show.

In the end the underdog won. The worries about the wide draw and busy season proved unfounded and the most talented racehorse in Europe was able to run below his brilliant best and score by two lengths from perennial bridesmaid Flintshire.

The benefit of being the underdog was that the pressure was off - something the owner and trainer both commented on - but connections must wonder why Golden Horn was so easy to overlook and why perhaps even after his Arc success he is still yet to break into the 'superstar' category.

Perhaps this was why both owner and trainer seemed keen to tackle the Breeders' Cup Turf with their budding world champion? Perhaps it's because they think he still has something more to give? Or perhaps they feel the horse needs to achieve something of that magnitude to earn a place among the modern giants?

We've certainly had plenty to celebrate of late with Frankel and Black Caviar earning monster ratings and dominating the sport for years, while this year we had Treve with a very real chance of becoming the first ever triple winner of the Arc and American Pharoah becoming the first US Triple Crown hero for 37 years.

When compared to those all-time legends and record-breakers it is perhaps no surprise that Golden Horn's achievements have been overshadowed. But if we rewind the clock back to before Sea The Stars, a horse with Golden Horn's record would have showered with superlatives. It's just that since then we've been awash with superstars who have raised the bar.

In the end that can only be a good thing, since if Golden Horn does win the Breeders' Cup Turf he would have amassed one of the finest three-year-old race records of the last fifty years, ranking up there with the likes of Nijinsky and Sea The Stars, which would be good for the sport and the horse.

If he had already booked his ticket to superstardom connections might not be so ready to ship to the US. This is what happened with Sea The Stars, who was retired after his Arc success in 2009. He was already considered a legend so that was that. Why take the risk travelling him?

Golden Horn is not there yet and that is largely because of his mid-season lull (he was withdrawn from King George, beaten in International Stakes, had to battle to win Irish Champion Stakes). The Arc on Sunday was really him just getting back on track.

Although the horse clearly had the talent to succeed, Frankie Dettori has to take some credit for Sunday's win, as he masterfully overcame a wide draw to drop the horse into a perfect sit just behind the pacemaker.

It clearly paid to be handy. Once the pacemaker dropped out at the top of the straight Golden Horn was left in the lead being tracked by the eventual second and third, Flintshire (124) and New Bay (122). Dettori pressed the button early in the straight and the winner was not for catching.

The favourite Treve had a better draw than Golden Horn but Thierry Jarnet was unable to make use of it and the star mare wound up near the rear on the outside of the field. The lack of pace meant she was keen and did not settle, but in the straight she managed to make up some ground against the pace bias to finish a close fourth.

On softer ground she might have been closer. John Gosden even joked that she might have won. She clearly might. She might also have won if her pacemaker had gone a bit quicker. But there are ifs, buts and maybes in every race. That's one of the reasons it's so hard to win three big races on the bounce.

The mare lost little in defeat. It was a defeat on paper alone and as a dual Arc winner she retires with her legacy assured.

The steady pace which did not help Treve also meant the field was well bunched at the line, with less than five lengths covering the first ten home (including a couple of 100-1 shots). The winner posted an RPR of 127, which is on a par with his Derby winning figure but below his Coral-Eclipse winning best (132).

At his best he's a full 7lb clear of the next best horses in Europe on RPRs and there aren't many horses who could challenge his world number one status. One exception would be current world number two American Pharoah (131), who is set to face his elders for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Classic at the end of the month.

TOP OF THE CLASS: Golden Horn 127 John Gosden (GB) (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, 1m4f, 4 October)

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bob u missed one oot the inexplicable defeat at York which I think was caused by soft going

Dettori: Horn fastest finish in my life
By Jack Haynes 3:12PM 6 OCT 2015

FRANKIE DETTORI has described the final furlong and a half of Golden Horn's victory in the Arc as the fastest he has experienced in his career.

Golden Horn's pulsating two-length win over Flintshire will be one remembered by many in racing for Dettori's enterprising ride, where he raced unconventionally wide in the early stages to secure a prominent position for John Gosden's star three-year-old.

There is no doubt that the best horse won the race, though Dettori's forward thinking will be etched in the memories of many people, including the man himself, who spoke vividly of their famous win at Leicester on Tuesday.

Dettori said: "The last furlong and a half I don't think I have been so fast on a horse in my life. I was able to enjoy it and wave to the crowd and after the race I couldn't stop him - he was at his best on Sunday.

"We had a plan, we stuck to it, we done it and it worked. Golden Horn showed the world he is really good and I was thrilled.

"He is just a brilliant horse to me. The Derby was special but this comes a close second."

Despite earning many of the plaudits, Dettori was quick to credit the staff at Gosden's yard, with the Cape Cross colt contesting seven races, including five Group 1s, so far this season.

"A lot of credit goes to the staff who have kept Golden Horn on the go for a long time and fingers crossed we will ship him to America and say goodbye.

"John has been great to me. He is a master trainer. I have mighty respect for him and have great confidence riding for him. It has been a great season for both of us."

Dettori also hinted at a possible tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland on Saturday October 31, for which the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned colt is a general 4-5 shot.

"He has shown his stuff in Europe and it would be great to see him in America. I think he is getting better and it would be great to see him again."

In my opinion saying that Golden Horn was the best horse would only be true if Treve ran 2nd.