Golden Horn Team Has Reasons for Cup Bid

Why would the owner of a four-time group I winner who has already snagged the Investec Derby (Eng-I) and the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) and is heading to stud next year take the chance on shipping to Breeders' Cup World Championships? The colt, Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) favorite Golden Horn, has done more than enough to kick-start a new stallion career.

For trainer John Gosden and owner Anthony Oppenheimer, the decision was pretty straightforward. The 3-year-old son of Cape Cross (IRE) loves to train, he came out of the Arc in good shape, and he will only have one shot to shine on the Breeders' Cup stage.

"It is always demanding for our horses to come here and run under these conditions, around tight turns," Gosden said. "He is still only a 3-year-old. I prefer in these big races to come here with a 4- or 5-year-old. If he was staying in training, to be quite honest, I would have waited until Santa Anita next year. Because he is retiring, (the Breeders' Cup) came straight back on the agenda."

Oppenheimer said the decision was entirely up to Gosden, and he firmly believes it was the right one.

"(John) said, 'Look at the horse, he is so well; it would be a shame not to run him,' " Oppenheimer said Oct. 29 after Golden Horn had a morning gallop on the Keeneland turf course. "(Golden Horn) looks simply marvelous. His coat is fantastic, and he is quite playful. He took a good bite out of his groom, so no problem at all."

Darley, which stands 21-year-old Cape Cross at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, bought a half interest in Golden Horn after the Arc. The colt will stand at Dalham Hall Stud near Newmarket.

Golden Horn is the seventh horse to capture both the Arc and the English Derby in the same year. If he wins the Turf, Golden Horn will become the first horse to capture the Arc-Turf double. His 6-1-0 record in seven starts this year includes victories in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I) and the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), and he finished second by a neck in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-I).

Oppenheimer said the trip to Lexington also should stir interest in Golden Horn among American breeders.

"We want one or two top American breeders to buy shares in him," he said. "We want them to see the horse, how well he goes, and how beautiful he is. I hope it will encourage them to take an interest in the horse."

Gosden said having Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and Europe's top horse on the same card makes this year's Breeders' Cup particularly special.

"To have 3-year-olds like this who can handle this amount of training and racing and seem to come back for more and relish it is unique, it's amazing," Gosden said. "(Golden Horn) is an intelligent horse, too. He takes it all in. If I try to give him an easy time, he starts bucking and kicking. He just loves training."