THE champion three-year-old in Europe in 2015 by a clear margin of six pounds, Golden Horn is one of the best racehorses that we have seen this century. He is one of only three horses ever to complete the Group 1 treble of the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Now he has retired to start his stud career at Dalham Hall in Newmarket, where there are 11 stallions in 2016, including such stars as Dubawi and New Approach,

Homebred by Anthony Oppenheimer and trained at Newmarket by John Gosden, Golden Horn raced only once at two years, but made a big impression when he won at Nottingham from Storm The Stars in a new course record time. Another time record followed on his 2015 debut, when he comfortably won the Listed Feilden Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket. Going on to York for the Group 2 Dante Stakes, Golden Horn was even more impressive, coming home three lengths clear of the subsequent Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs and Elm Park.

Consequently Golden Horn was a hot favourite for the Group 1 Epsom Derby, where he came with a blistering run down the straight to give Frankie Dettori his second Derby by three and a half lengths from Jack Hobbs and Storm The Stars in the third fastest time ever. Going next to the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, he scored by the same margin from The Grey Gatsby. However at York he gave too much start to Arabian Queen in the Group 1 Juddmonte International and was just beaten in a photo-finish.

greatest victory

A month later Golden Horn was back to winning ways in the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, finishing a length clear of Found and Free Eagle. Then came probably his greatest victory, going ahead some way from home in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and running on to win by two lengths from Flintshire, New Bay and Treve.

He then almost managed to add the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland, but was just caught on the line by the top-class filly Found.

Golden Horn has retired to Dalham Hall Stud in 2016 as the winner of seven of his nine starts and a close second in the other two. His pedigree is free of both Sadler’s Wells and Danehill, as he is a son of the champion miler Cape Cross, whose 101 blacktype winners already include two great international champions in Sea The Stars, a multiple Group 1 sire, and Ouija Board, dam of the outstanding Australia.

Fleche d’Or, Golden Horn’s dam, has also produced Eastern Belle, who won the Listed Ballymacoll Stakes at Newbury in 2014. She is a half-sister by Kingmambo’s son Dubai Destination to 10 winners, including the Group 1 Coronation Stakes victress Rebecca Sharp.

Champion 3yr old colt in Europe in 2015. Won seven races, £4,438,651, from 1 mile to 1 mile 4 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Coral Eclipse Stakes, Sandown Park, Gr.1, Investec Derby Stakes, Epsom Downs, Gr.1, Qipco Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.1, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, Gr.1, Betfred Dante Stakes, York, Gr.2, Feilden Stakes, Newmarket, L, also placed second in Juddmonte International Stakes, York, Gr.1, Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, Keeneland, Gr.1. Retires to stud in 2016