Relying on the weather to play ball can be a joyless task and wet conditions at York threaten to knock on the head racing’s most eagerly-anticipated clash of 2015 between Aidan O’Brien’s Guineas winner Gleneagles and the Derby hero Golden Horn over the Juddmonte International’s mile and a quarter.
Up to 9mms of rain fell on the Knavesmire just at the wrong time, turning conditions on the soft side of good a day before the Ebor festival starts, and O’Brien’s insistence that Gleneagles needs a quick service to run could mean a late call to take the Irish star out of the race.
Gleneagles has already missed both the Sussex and the Marois at the mile trip his trainer has previously insisted is a perfect fit for the colt.
It may be judged that presenting him with a task of racing beyond a mile for the first time, against an unbeaten superstar whose three year old campaign to date sees him rated on a par with the legendary pair of Sea The Stars and Frankel at the same stage of their careers, and on less than ideal conditions, may be asking too much.
‘Up in the air
’ “Things are up in the air,” O’Brien conceded. “The ground is not the way we would like it. We’ll wait and see. Joseph (O’Brien) will be riding in two races early in the card and it’s possible we might wait to see what he says.”
Even on ideal conditions, Gleneagles has over half a stone to find with Golden Horn on official ratings and O’Brien Jnr faces another herculean task in boiling down his six-foot frame to make 8.12.
So in the circumstances, there will be those who might opt for the unexposed but hugely promising Time Test, or even the star older runner, The Grey Gatsby, as possible alternatives for opposing the odds-on Golden Horn.
However O’Brien is chasing a record seventh win in the famous race, a record which makes his original decision to set Gleneagles such a challenge all the more significant.
Even against the odds, victory would open up a new set of options for the colt but defeat is hardly likely to dent the value of a dual-Guineas winner who has already been so dominant at a mile against his peers, especially since the weather fates appeared to have turned against him again.
In contrast, perhaps only a spectacular defeat of his rivals will add to Golden Horn’s already considerable reputation which was enhanced by an authoritative defeat of The Grey Gatsby in last month’s Eclipse.
Anti-climatic
Frankie Dettori is already talking of him as the best three year old he has ever ridden, a statement which would make defeat at York seem anti-climactic.
Golden Horn too skipped the King George due to ground concerns but with the going veering towards “good to soft” in places on Tuesday, that isn’t of concern to his trainer John Gosden.
In contrast Gleneagles bypassed a Sussex run on officially good ground and O’Brien originally targeted York on the basis that “on good fast ground, a mile and a quarter there would be a good race for him.”
Bondi Beach is Joseph O’Brien’s pick from three Ballydoyle runners in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur while Lieutenant General lines up in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes, potentially a crucial York reconnaissance for the Ballydoyle team.
Sacrificial a solid bet at Killarney
Ger Lyons has long believed Sacrificial to be a black-type performer and the gelding can prove the trainer’s point with a vengeance now he is promoted to Listed level in the opening day feature at Killarney’s August festival.
After breaking his maiden last April off a mark of 87, Sacrificial has risen through the ratings, posting a fine effort in Royal Ascot’s Britannia when winning on his side of the track, and is now on a 106 mark after a good victory at Galway.
The Qatar Racing-owned runner also won over the course and distance of the Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes last May so with overnight rain forecast and blinkers kept on, Sacrificial looks well set for the €45,000 highlight.
The Irish 1,000 Guineas third, Devonshire, is rated 108 but failed to fire in the Jersey at Ascot although softer going will suit her while Aidan O’Brien’s runner, Battle Of Marathon, finished last on his sole start of the season to date.
The Ballydoyle team could still enjoy a fruitful trip to Kerry with Johannes Vermeer in the opening juvenile maiden. The colt started odds-on at Tipperary last month and can improve on his third-place to Mrs King.
