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Goldie cool on idea of Goodwood for American Affair

Goldie cool on idea of Goodwood for American Affair

The Royal Ascot hero is the third generation of the family Goldie has trained, with American Affair's dam, Classy Anne, by Orientor whom Goldie guided with great success.
American Affair was, though, Goldie's first ever Group One winner after several near-misses and he now has more big targets in his sights for the Paul Mulrennan-ridden five-year-old.
'It's just started to sink in. He's come out of the race well and he's been out on the gallops yesterday and today,' said Goldie on Sunday.
'The stars aligned, but that is quite often the case with good horses. I still don't think he's quite as good as Orientor was, but I probably had him early enough in my career and I learned a lot from him. Fortunately for me we kept him an entire which looks very shrewd now!
'We learned a lot from the likes of him, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. I'm looking forward to seeing where this horse will peak.'
Looking to the future Goldie does not believe Goodwood's downhill five furlongs is totally suitable in the King George Stakes.
'Five furlongs up a hill at Ascot is the perfect fit for him, I always thought it might be, so I'm not sure Goodwood will suit him going downhill,' he said.
'Otherwise we will wait for York and the Nunthorpe where we might have to take on a two-year-old or two which will be interesting.'
Even further afield, American Affair now has an all-expenses paid trip to the Breeders' Cup to look forward to.
'We'll have to have a serious think about the Breeders' Cup if they are going to pay. I can't think of any other horse trained in Scotland to have run at it!' said Goldie.

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CALUM McCLURKIN: American Affair's Royal Ascot triumph is a Scottish sporting success story to savour
CALUM McCLURKIN: American Affair's Royal Ascot triumph is a Scottish sporting success story to savour

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

CALUM McCLURKIN: American Affair's Royal Ascot triumph is a Scottish sporting success story to savour

Jim Goldie is far too modest to say but American Affair's success in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot was a sensational modern-day Scottish sporting success story. We are no stranger to big-race success north of the border in horse racing. Lucinda Russell has won two Grand Nationals in the last decade with One For Arthur (2017) and Corach Rambler (2023). Russell showed her prowess for priming one for the big occasion at this year's Cheltenham Festival when Myretown blitzed the field in the Ultima Handicap Chase, landing a right gamble in the process. What Scotland craved, however, was something similar on the Flat. It seems impossible in the modern day for a small yard in Lanarkshire to win a Group One prize at Royal Ascot. But Goldie somehow managed it. Racing is one of the most established oldest sports in the planet. There have been results recorded as early as the 1720s. There has been no registered Group One success by a horse trained in Scotland in history. Until a couple of weeks ago when American Affair won the King Charles III Stakes. The Pattern formula was only introduced in 1971 and Scotland has waited since its induction for its first Group One success. Make no mistake, this is Scotland's most significant race win on the Flat since Rockavon won the 2,000 Guineas in 1961. That was only the third Scottish-trained winner at Royal Ascot. Big Timer won the Wokingham Stakes Handicap for Linda Perratt in 2008. You'd have to go back to Lanercost's Gold Cup win in 1841 for the only other known Scottish-trained success at the royal meeting. This was the first at Group One level. And in an era where deep pockets and powerhouse breeding operations rule the sport with an iron fist, for Goldie to achieve the success with a home bred is nothing short of extraordinary. This was a victory for patience and familiarity. Rated a lowly 67 at Carlisle at the beginning of his career, American Affair has risen through the ranks as a sprinter. As Goldie puts it, he's getting quicker as he's getting older. He's now rated 114 and a Group One winner. Scotland's flag bearer for the Flat. Keith Dalgleish went close a couple of times with good horses on the big stage, Glasvegas and What's The Story are two that come to mind who ran well at the royal meeting. Goldie has a long association with good horses; think the likes of Euchen Glen, Jack Dexter and Hawkeyethenoo. The latter two were sprinters from a similar breeding line and it was the familiarity by training the family over the last two generations that helped Goldie, who turns 70 at the end of the year, to a landmark victory with American Affair. Goldie told Mail Sport: 'This is very sweet. 'He has just been fantastic. We started him off at seven furlongs but, since he got back to five, he's got better and better. 'Funnily enough, I was quite confident he would do it here. It all fell into place and, aye it's great. It means a lot.' 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Spirit Mixer produces 25-1 Northumberland Plate surprise
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Powys County Times

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Spirit Mixer produces 25-1 Northumberland Plate surprise

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