Racing: Gosden concerned by Arc traffic problems for Derby hero

John Gosden’s hopes of landing Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, may rest on his Epsom Derby champion Golden Horn having a clear run at Longchamp on Sunday he told AFP.

The 64-year-old Englishman, whose only major gap on his CV is not winning the Arc, is concerned by some of the 18 horse field just being there so their owners can say they had a runner in the race.

Golden Horn, winner of six of his seven races and the mount of Frankie Dettori, represents on paper at least the biggest obstacle to extraordinary French race mare Treve winning a historic third Arc.

I see Thierry Jarnet (Treve’s jockey) is worried about traffic problems during the race,” Gosden told AFP on Saturday morning from his base in Newmarket.

It is nice of course as an owner to have a runner in the Arc but some are just there for that.

By being there that could prove problematic for others,” added Gosden, who also saddles Eagle Top in the race.

Gosden, who went from gaining an economics degree at Cambridge University to ultimately beginning his training career in California, persuaded the horse’s owner Anthony Oppenheimer to shell out 120,000 euros to supplement Golden Horn for the race on Thursday.

He largely did this on the basis of the ground drying out — something not to Treve’s liking — so he was taken aback they had watered the track on Friday.

We get heavy dews this time of year so to hear that the taps were turned on yesterday was surprising news,” he said.

Still I don’t run the racecourse.”

Gosden said his horse faced a tough task against Treve.

Golden Horn is a grand horse who has been busy this year, he’s been on the go since February,” said Gosden, who trained with great success in California before deciding to return to England in 1989.

Quite a task lies ahead for us as Treve is a magnificent racemare.

Amazing to think though that like Treve, Golden Horn was led out unsold at the yearling sales!

He’s done rather well! He has a great constitution and a great turn of foot.”

Gosden is delighted too that Golden Horn has played a major role in the renaissance of Dettori, who just under three years ago looked as if his stellar career was facing an ignominious end after failing a dope test at Longchamp for cocaine.

His talents have always been there,” said Gosden.

However, like a great actor on the stage you need roles of a similar stature.

It can be very dispiriting in any walk of life if you don’t get the parts your talents deserve.”

Gosden, though, is phlegmatic about whether he finally ends his Arc drought on Sunday.

It (Arc day) is to me the greatest race day of the year, that and the first day of Royal Ascot, and I mean not as a self-interested trainer but as a spectator,” he said.

Vis-a-vis winning it at last? Well Charlie Whittingham had to wait till he was in his 70’s to win his first Kentucky Derby (he was aged 73 when Ferdinand won ‘the Run for the Roses’ making him the oldest trainer do so) so I have a way to go!

I can wait.”