Golden Horn Out of King George

Trainer John Gosden announced on course before the start of racing at Ascot this morning that G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. favorite Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) has been scratched due to the heavy ground conditions.

“Where we are standing on the straight course, this ground is fine, and will ride good to soft,” Gosden explained. “But where they are running over a mile and a half, it runs down into Swinley Bottom–and it’s not called that for nothing. On that part of the course, my stick was going in 10 or 12 inches and it’s holding ground there. He’s a horse with an enormous amount of speed and is an incredible athlete; you’re asking him to be nearly a St Leger horse to go on that (ground) today.”

The G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Coral-Eclipse S. winner’s defection means rider Frankie Dettori will switch to one of Gosden’s other two charges, Eagle Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was previously scheduled to be partnered by Richard Hughes.

Gosden added Golden Horn is now likely to be diverted to the G1 Juddmonte International at York Aug. 19.

“It does not make sense bottoming him out in ground like that and stretching his stamina,” the conditioner said. “We are frustrated, but I have left it as late as I can. It would be wrong to ask this sort of question in the middle of the season–if it was his last run it would be a different matter. We would look towards York as he is full of himself and ready to go. I think we will go there and take it from there.”