
Goldie sweet on Ascot aim for American Affair
The five-year-old saw his rapid improvement briefly come to a halt in Haydock's Temple Stakes when he finished fifth behind Ed Walker's mare Mgheera.
However, Goldie believes a lack of early cover which forced him to run too keen, and then meeting trouble in running when he eventually did get in behind horses are enough of an excuse to believe he could have made up the two and three-quarter lengths that he was beaten.
'He's still on target for Ascot,' said Goldie. 'I think we needed a bit of cover and we didn't get it straight away, and then when he did get it he (Paul Mulrennan) couldn't get out when he needed to.
'He's one of these horses, we discovered when he won the Portland, that he is probably 10lb better if you can switch him off so you need to get cover.
'He likes getting towed along but mentally he then switches off. If you don't get proper cover, mentally he doesn't switch off and he ends up running with the choke open and that is exactly what happened.
'We were disappointed, obviously, but it wasn't that bad a run and we've still got a horse with a big engine and we'll try again another day.
'Look at last year's Derby winner (City Of Troy), when he ran in the Guineas Aidan O'Brien said he lost his race in the stalls because he got a bit upset and it turned out he was right – then he went to America and it went wrong again.
'They are highly-tuned animals and if they don't get into an absolute rhythm they rarely win. You can't get it right all the time.
'He's good enough for that level, I've never doubted that, and there's usually one or two at Ascot who go blasting off and if you are drawn next to them that helps.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Herald Scotland
38 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits
Middleham Park's director of operations, Mike Prince, said: 'It was a brilliant day and it was surreal watching him as he was coming round the bend and into the straight travelling so sweetly. 'There was just a split second where you thought 'he might just do it'! I think Christophe (Soumillon) thought that he would get past him (Lambourn), but the winner is obviously a good horse and he was super tough in that final furlong.' A huge thank you to @itvracing for capturing the incredible scenes after Lazy Griff's brilliant 2nd place finish in The Derby. This is syndication at its finest, sharing unforgettable moments together!💙🧡 📽️ITV Racing#TeamMPR #Derby2025 — Middleham Park Racing (@MprUpdates) June 7, 2025 Prince insists Lazy Griff's performance was not a huge surprise to his connections, particularly after the rain that fell on the Surrey Downs in the lead-up to the race. 'He'd worked well in the spring and he just missed a week before Chester, so we knew we were going into Chester undercooked and we knew he'd come on for it. So having seen him run such a big race there, that kind of cemented us going for the Derby,' Prince continued. 'The only issue was Charlie didn't want to run him on super fast ground, that was the only reason he wouldn't have gone to Epsom, but obviously the rain came which was helpful. 'We were thinking we could finish in the top six going in there – we weren't going there just for a day out that's for sure and Christophe obviously won a Group Three in France on him last year and I know he couldn't understand why he was such a big price either.' A trio of Group One assignments are on the table for the Protectionist colt's next start, while another tilt at Classic glory in the St Leger at Doncaster appears an obvious target. Prince said: 'There's the German Derby, the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. No decision has been made as yet and obviously the ground will play a part – if it's fast anywhere we won't go. 'I think it will be one of those three and I'd say the percentage call at this point would be the Grand Prix de Paris, but it's certainly not set in stone and if it came up heavy in Ireland with proper soft ground that might change things. 'The St Leger would make sense later in the year as although he was quite fleet of foot there coming down the hill at Epsom, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, being by a Melbourne Cup winner, and I know after Chester Charlie said 'this is a Leger horse'.' Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff (PA) Wherever Lazy Griff turns up next it should be an exciting second half of the season for his 24 individual owners, which include George Griffiths, after whom the horse is named. Prince said: 'We have a policy where the first person to buy a 15 per cent share gets to name the horse and George also got his name on the racecard. He and his wife Amy were obviously on cloud nine on Saturday.'

Leader Live
44 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Lady Iman likely to swerve Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot
Trainer Ger Lyons is considering other options for the unbeaten Starman filly, with the Balanchine Stakes on June 28 at the Curragh – better known as the Airlie Stud Stakes – a likely target before she steps up to Group One class. 'I'll talk to the owners before I make the entry or not but as we stand I can only tell you that my understanding is we might stay at home for the Balanchine/Phoenix/Moyglare or Cheveley Park later on, that's the route we are thinking at the minute,' Lyons told the Nick Luck Daily podcast. 'She's in good order, she's been push-button for me and I know I'll get slated by the perceived experts for not lining up in Ascot but anybody who knows me knows Ascot is not the be-all-and-end-all for me, it's all about the future of the horse going forward.' One who Lyons is taking over the water is Babouche, winner of the Phoenix Stakes last year and a horse who impressed when winning at Naas last time out. 'I'm never confident. Babouche is a star and if she never runs again she owes us all nothing,' said Lyons. 'I loved what she did at Naas, is that good enough? I don't know. 'It's a very strong race and I'd be very worried of the Godolphin horse (Shadow Of Light) who was placed in the Guineas dropping back and there's more than that. 'Then you need luck in running. I wouldn't be overly confident with my string at the moment, the way they are performing. 'I wouldn't be jumping up and down about my string heading into Ascot, I'd rather be in a better frame of mind with them but if I'm happy with them I'll send them.'


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lady Iman likely to swerve Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot
Trainer Ger Lyons is considering other options for the unbeaten Starman filly, with the Balanchine Stakes on June 28 at the Curragh – better known as the Airlie Stud Stakes – a likely target before she steps up to Group One class. 'I'll talk to the owners before I make the entry or not but as we stand I can only tell you that my understanding is we might stay at home for the Balanchine/Phoenix/Moyglare or Cheveley Park later on, that's the route we are thinking at the minute,' Lyons told the Nick Luck Daily podcast. 'She's in good order, she's been push-button for me and I know I'll get slated by the perceived experts for not lining up in Ascot but anybody who knows me knows Ascot is not the be-all-and-end-all for me, it's all about the future of the horse going forward.' One who Lyons is taking over the water is Babouche, winner of the Phoenix Stakes last year and a horse who impressed when winning at Naas last time out. 'I'm never confident. Babouche is a star and if she never runs again she owes us all nothing,' said Lyons. 'I loved what she did at Naas, is that good enough? I don't know. 'It's a very strong race and I'd be very worried of the Godolphin horse (Shadow Of Light) who was placed in the Guineas dropping back and there's more than that. 'Then you need luck in running. I wouldn't be overly confident with my string at the moment, the way they are performing. 'I wouldn't be jumping up and down about my string heading into Ascot, I'd rather be in a better frame of mind with them but if I'm happy with them I'll send them.'