Thursday’s racing round-up includes the news of a big-race clash set to take place at Ascot next month…
Goliath has been ruled out of Sunday's Group 1 Preis von Europa at Cologne due to a minor setback. A shock winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, the four-year-old had been set to reoppose Rebel's Romance in Germany before setting sail to contest the Japan Cup later in November. However, he will now miss the intended engagement. Von Ullmann told www.galopponline.de: "This morning I received a call from trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who told me that Goliath had developed a small foot abscess after his final work. We're still aiming for the Japan Cup, but we'll have to see what the exact plan is now."
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Calandagan is on course to set up a mouthwatering clash with Economics in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot next month. An impressive six-length winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the gelded son of Gleneagles is as short as 2/1 with bookmakers after chasing home the Breeders' Cup Classic-bound City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International at York.
Call Me Captain ran out a somewhat surprising winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas this afternoon, with Aidan O'Brien's expensive purchase Galveston trailing home a disappointing last of seven. The Coolmore-owned Galveston cost two million guineas as a yearling, but the well-bred son of Frankel looked in trouble some way out and was never capable of landing a blow under Ryan Moore.
Over 1,500 people are expected to head to Southwell to watch the workout of Aidan O'Brien's Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful and Epsom Derby hero City Of Troy at 3.45pm tomorrow. Connections will be looking to replicate an American-style gallop in a bid to prepare City Of Troy for his first run on dirt. The gallop can be watched live on Sky Sports Racing's YouTube channel.
Saeed bin Suroor is still looking towards the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile with his debut winner Elwateen, although he remains keen to get another run into his filly beforehand. The daughter of Dubawi stayed on nicely to make a winning debut at Kempton and bin Suroor has reported to have been happy with her recent homework.
