'He beat very decent horses there' - King George hero Goliath tunes up for Japan Cup with cosy win at Longchamp

A dominant winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on his most recent appearance, Goliath brushed away the cobwebs accrued during an 85-day absence with a snug defeat of the evergreen Hamish.

New US-based co-owner John Stewart flew in to watch Goliath negotiate what looked beforehand a trappy preparation for the Japan Cup, and he saw the four-year-old overcome a muddling pace and heavy ground to win by half a 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 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."

Graffard was on the wrong end of an agonising late change of fortune when Calandagan was run down in the shadow of the post at Ascot on Saturday, and was relieved to see the second part of his major weekend hopes go according to plan.

"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 per cent 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 in the world behind the 127-rated City Of Troy.

Goliath with his new co-owner John Stewart (fourth from the left) and owner-breeder Philip Baron von Ullmann (right)

Von Ullmann emphasised how much more he thought was to come from Goliath, who missed his intended prep in the Preis von Europa in September owing to a foot abscess.

"We were very impressed because we knew today he would be at 70 or 80 per cent and would need the run just to get the condition on him," said Von Ullmann. "He had two kilos [4lb] more to carry and he beat very decent horses today. I think in five or six weeks' time he’ll be at 100 per cent for the Japan Cup.

"If there’s one thing that Francis can do, it’s get the horses at 100 per cent for the big races."

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 on November 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."

Goliath and Christophe Soumillon return after winning the Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp

In a race in which both Marquisat and recent Arc sixth Zarakem also had Group 2 victories, it was Hamish who got within half a length of scoring the biggest success of his career under Tom Marquand. 

Maureen Haggas essentially trains the eight-year-old from the saddle each morning and was on hand to welcome Hamish back after another stirring effort at the end of a campaign which has seen him take his tally to eight Group 3 wins, and also secure the runner-up berth behind Luxembourg in the Coronation Cup. 

"I thought he ran really well," she said. "The winner is a very good horse and I never expected to beat him. To run as close to him as he did is great. We’re really pleased.

"There’s only one more race for him in England [the St Simon Stakes] but that’s next Saturday, so it will come too quick. I don’t know if there’s anything left for him in France, but he loves soft ground and is in great form."

Read more . . .

A leading sprinter for next season, Burke handicapper to follow and future stars in saddle - three things we learned this week 

'I put my binoculars down halfway up the straight and thought we had no chance' - Anmaat flies home to land 40-1 Champion Stakes shock 

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