Goliath to miss £1.5m King George defence with major US race targeted instead

Goliath: set to miss King George defence(Image: PA)

Top middle-distance horse Goliath is set to shun another tilt at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The five-year-old gelding pulled off a huge upset in the Ascot showpiece in 2024 by defeating subsequent Arc winner Bluestocking as well as the likes of Rebel’s Romance and Auguste Rodin at odds of 25-1. Ambitious US owner John Stewart subsequently bought a controlling stake in the Francis Graffard-trained horse for his Resolute Racing team with a view to campaigning him internationally.

He has won twice since but was heavily beaten by stablemate Calandagan when they met in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last month in which Goliath finished last of five.

Graffard later revealed,“His blood test results were not very good after the race so I have an excuse and I know why he didn’t perform, he was not right that day.

“Plans are still up in the air but John has the idea to go to Colonial Downs (for the Arlington Million), which is not a bad idea at all, and I will consider it and discuss it with John. The horse will tell us, but it is definitely an option we will consider.”

The Arlington Million was the first race in the US to offer $1 million and became a major attraction for European runners with Luca Cumani winning the third edition in 1983 with the Pat Eddery-ridden Tolomeo. Last year it was won by the Charlie Appleby-trained Nations Price.

Since the closure of Arlington Park in Chicago, the race has moved to Colonial Downs where it is staged on August 9 as the centrepiece of the Colonial Downs Festival. It still offers $1m in prize-money.

John Stewart bought a controlling stake in Goliath(Image: Keeneland Photo)

Stewart, who registered his first European Group 1 victory with Woodshauna in Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat, sees other benefits in targeting the Arlington Million over the King George.

“We don’t think he will be ready for the King George and the Arlington Million has bonus points for the Japan Cup and is a ‘Win & You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup.” he told Mirror Racing.

“So we are going that direction.”