Hobbs May Yet Swerve Arc

John Gosden plans on making a late decision over the participation of G1 Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) in next Sunday’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The trainer also has the brilliant Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in line for the race and is reluctant to pitch his two star colts against each other for a second time. As it stands Gosden could wait an extra fortnight and aim Jack Hobbs at the G1 Champion S. at Ascot and rely on Golden Horn as his main Arc hope. “We are very much watching the weather,” said Gosden. “It is autumn and we’ve had a huge amount of rain in August and September, so anything’s possible. Jack Hobbs is a horse who can run in the Arc next year and I think it would be stupid to run them both.” Gosden is in the enviable position of probably having the two best middle distance 3-year-old colts in Britain and Ireland and his problem of keeping them apart is a problem most trainers would relish. “Golden Horn has proven himself superior and I don’t see the point in going to Paris to find out that again when the Champion Stakes is 13 days later. Jack Hobbs’ owners are very clear that the Arc and the Champion are equal and they’re just as happy to go to Ascot,” explained Gosden.