Trainer Charlie Appleby is over the moon with how his stable star Ghaiyyath has come out of the Juddmonte International and now looks ahead to his next target with plenty of races in the offing.
The five year old started in the Group One Coronation Cup at Newmarket at the start of June and saw off Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck along with three time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius, subsequently breaking the track record.
In the first weekend of July he stepped up for another Group One event at Sandown in the Coral Eclipse and although all the talk was about Enable's return, this horse was the one with the headlines after a stunning front running performance.
He entered the Juddmonte International seeking a hat-trick of black type wins for the season and like always his front running effort was not to be caught seeing off another superb field of runners on the Knavesmire.
🐎🏆 Is Ghaiyyath the best Turf horse in the world at the moment?
— BETDAQ (@BETDAQ) August 19, 2020
(🎥 @RacingTV) pic.twitter.com/Z19OvZsVEV
He now has the potential to enter three huge contests before the finish of the flat season with him Currently top of the betting for the British Champions Stakes and third in the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Appleby said on www.godolphin.com: “No decisions on his programme have been reached, but all the major races one would expect are under consideration – the Group One Irish Champion Stakes, the Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Ascot’s Group One Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
“Ghaiyyath has come back from York in fine order. He has taken it well, and post-race, he looks very good. The old racing cliche is applicable here – he will tell us where and when he goes next. We will monitor him closely and work something out by the end of the week.
“Our policy is always to do what is best for the horse.”