Irish Champion glory for Golden Horn

Brilliant Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn returned to winning ways and added a third victory at the highest level to his CV on 12 September, landing the G1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Sent straight to the front under Frankie Dettori, Golden Horn was asked to quicken as the field rounded the final turn and despite moving off the rail approaching the furlong marker, battled superbly to win by a length.There was a stewards’ enquiry after the race, however the places remained unaltered.

Golden Horn won his only start at two, reappearing this April with a record-breaking victory in the Listed Feilden Stakes at Newmarket. He then took the Dante by almost three lengths before storming home at Epsom to win the Derby by three and a half lengths (pictured). The John Gosden-trained colt then successfully took on his older rivals – once again winning by a wide margin – in the Eclipse at Sandown.

Golden Horn was bred by Anthony Oppenheimer’s Hascombe and Valiant Stud and is out of Fleche d’Or, a half-sister to the great racemare Rebecca Sharp.

Cape Cross is sire of 23 individual Stakes performers so far this year, including Group winner Agent Murphy – strongly fancied to take tomorrow’s G1 Irish St Leger.