Golden Horn Scratched From Ascot Stake
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The prestigious £1.15 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot Racecourse lost some of its luster the morning of the July 25 race when undefeated favorite Golden Horn was withdrawn.
John Gosden, who trains the son of Cape Cross for owner-breeder Andrew Oppehnheimer, cited the soft course conditions resulting from the nearly 1 1/2 inches of rain that had fallen in a 12-hour period as the reason for the withdrawal.
The only 3-year-old in the race, Golden Horn would have been seeking to become only the fourth horse to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I), and the Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I) in the same season.
The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" race with the winner receiving an automatic berth in this year into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).