Australian horse Criterion will have formidable opposition in the Juddmonte International with Gleneagles to join the line-up which already includes the unbeaten Golden Horn.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has confirmed dual Guineas winner Gleneagles will miss this weekend’s Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville because of the predicted wet ground and instead head to York next Wednesday.
Connections had been keen to stick to a mile (1600m) but O’Brien said with conditions in France against the colt, he would step up to 2000m.
“The chances of him running in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday are unfortunately fading with the forecast,” O’Brien said.
“I’ve always considered Gleneagles a true miler but he needs good fast ground to be seen at his best therefore York will probably be his next race as we are running out of options with him.
“It’s a very sporting gesture by his owners.”
Criterion is a 33-1 chance with Golden Horn the 4-7 favourite ahead of Gleneagles at 11-4.
A triple Group One winner in Australia, Criterion finished fifth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot won by Free Eagle who is also set to run in the Juddmonte.
Criterion will return to Australia with the first contingent of international horses heading to the Melbourne spring carnival.
