A dominant winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) on his most recent appearance July 27, Goliath brushed away the cobwebs accrued during an 85-day absence with a snug defeat of the evergreen Hamish in the Oct. 20 Prix du Conseil de Paris (G2).
New United States-based co-owner John Stewart flew in to watch Goliath negotiate what looked beforehand a trappy preparation for the Japan Cup (G1), and he saw the 4-year-old overcome a muddling pace and heavy ground to win by a half-length at Longchamp.
Trainer Francis Graffard said: “He had a lot of things against him; he was carrying a penalty and he needed the run because he’s a huge horse.
“This ground is not what he prefers and the race was full of potential traps, with a small number of runners. But (jockey) Christophe (Soumillon) has begun to really get to know him and he has a lot of confidence in him. He gave him a chance to stretch out when he started to pull in the false straight.”
“He took a gulp of air halfway up the straight and Christophe respected his horse before they went on again,” he said. “I’m delighted to have won but this was all about getting a run into him on the way to Japan, and he’s now got that out of the way, that’s the most important thing.”
Stewart bought 75% of Goliath from his owner-breeder Philip Baron von Ullmann after his Ascot victory, a success which ties the son of Adlerflug with his stablemate Calandagan on an official mark of 125, making them the joint-second-best turf horses on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings behind the 127-rated City Of Troy .
Von Ullmann emphasised how much more he thought was to come from Goliath, who missed his intended prep in the Preis von Europa (G1) in September owing to a foot abscess.
“We were very impressed because we knew today he would be at 70 or 80% and would need the run just to get the condition on him,” said Von Ullmann. “He had two kilos more to carry and he beat very decent horses today. I think in five or six weeks’ time he’ll be at 100% for the Japan Cup.”
Soumillon partnered Goliath for the first time in the King George but has already struck up a great rapport, while his experience in Japan will also be an advantage when it comes to challenging for the country’s greatest all-aged prize Nov. 24.
Von Ullmann said: “There he’ll get the fast pace he needs. I think the ground might be a little bit too firm, but he’ll definitely like it more than he liked this.
“The Japanese competition is very good, but I don’t think they’re as good as in the last couple of years. So I think if there is a year to attack from the European side, this year is a great chance.”
