The forecast of rain is giving owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer cause for concern as Golden Horn bids to continue his scintillating summer in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
A brilliant winner of the Derby at Epsom before seeing off The Grey Gatsby in the Eclipse at Sandown, Golden Horn goes to the well once more in Ascot’s midsummer showpiece and is odds-on to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Connections are confident Golden Horn remains at the peak of his powers, despite a busy campaign, but are fearful of conditions in Berkshire deteriorating.
“I think one’s always nervous before a race like this and especially when there is some rain around,” Oppenheimer said.
“The way the weather is at the moment, you don’t know how much they’re going to get, so that’s a bit of a worry.”
He is the only three-year-old in the line-up and will be joined by two of his John Gosden-trained stablemates, Eagle Top and Romsdal.
Gosden also admits the possibility of rain is a bigger worry than the fact the horse will be seeking a third Group One win in the space of seven weeks.
“I have been asked whether we are going to the well too often. My answer is that I am more worried about the forecast of rain at Ascot on Saturday than any fear that we might be over-racing him,” Gosden told the Godolphin website.
“I think he will be all right if it is good to soft’ but we will be in unknown territory on soft ground.”