Star 3-year–old colt Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) has been given a clean bill of health by trainer John Gosden following his smooth win in the G1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. “I'm very pleased with him. He ate up everything last night,” reported Gosden on Sunday, adding, “he had a good lead out this morning, had a pick of grass and is on very good terms with himself. That is always a major bonus out of any race.” Gosden and owner breeder Anthony Oppenheimer now have the task of carefully mapping out the rest of the colt's season, one which might possibly be his last season on the track. Oppenheimer is not overly keen on Golden Horn running as a 4-year-old and commented, “As for racing next year, I am not enthusiastic. It's not something I really feel strongly about, but I would prefer not to.” On medium term racing plans, the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. is on the radar, a race that Oppenheimer has had a close involvement with over the years. “It would be the most exciting thing for me as the company I work for, De Beers, sponsored the race for 34 years and I was closely involved with the sponsorship,” said Oppenheimer. A career finale in the G1 Prix De l'Arc de Triomphe is also a distinct possibility with all the usual provisos concerning ground conditions to be taken into account. One thing that is certain is that the horse is not for sale with Oppenheimer saying, “I've no intention of selling the horse. I would want to have some sort of control over the horse when he goes to stud and I want him to go to stud, if possible, in Newmarket.”
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