Graffard backing Goliath to be big in Japan

Francis-Henri Graffard is confident Goliath can step up to the mark as he prepares to take his chance in the Japan Cup in Tokyo on Sunday.

The gelding ran for the first time outside of France when second in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, after which he was an impressive winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes ahead of subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Bluestocking.

Ineligible for that race, Goliath was instead aimed at the Preis von Europa at Cologne but missed that meeting due to an abscess and was successfully rerouted to the Prix du Conseil de Paris.

That victory left him in a good place before his trip to Japan and having travelled well and settled in pleasingly, his trainer is hopeful ahead of the horse’s reunion with rider Christophe Soumillon.

“The distance and the left-handed track is not a problem for the horse. He can follow any pace and he can quicken from the pace. It’s a big challenge, but we’re very keen to take it,” Graffard said.

“Goliath means quality. He is now four years old, so he’s more mature. He has a lot of strength but his main quality is that he can jump and has a very good early pace, which is important in this type of race, and then he has an amazing turn of foot.

“The races here are very hard to win, but I think we have the right horse to take that challenge and we are here to be very competitive, so fingers crossed.”

A notable runner for both locals and overseas followers is Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin, who is by the late Japan Cup winner Deep Impact.

The four-year-old completed the English-Irish Derby double and won the Breeders’ Cup Turf last season but has encountered mixed fortunes this year, though he did win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and go close in the Irish Champion among beaten efforts in the Sheema Classic, Tattersalls Gold Cup and the King George.

Ahead of his final run and trip to his sire’s homeland, O’Brien said: “We always dreamed that Auguste Rodin could finish off his career in Japan – obviously he’s by one of the greatest stallions ever. We always dreamed that he could be a horse for the Japan Cup.

“It was a dream that we could win the Japan Cup, we’ve tried it before but no horse was as good as this horse.

“At the moment, we couldn’t be happier. He’s a very straightforward horse. He’s a very good mover and has a very good mind.

“Obviously, the Japan Cup is a very prestigious race and that’s why he is here for it. It’s considered one of the best races in the world every year.”

The third and final European contender is Sarah Steinberg’s German colt Fantastic Moon, who was ninth in the Arc when last seen but won the Grosser Preis von Baden prior to that.

“In spite of the long journey coming here, he travelled well. After arriving in Japan, he adapted to the new environment quickly and is in good condition,” said the trainer.

“As we all know, the Japan Cup is a big race with very strong runners. It’s also famous for the strong pace, which I think will suit our horse. That’s one of the reasons why we decided to run him in the Japan Cup.

“The European raiders are also very hard to beat, so for Fantastic Moon to finish within the money might be challenging, but we hope to prepare him, keep him in good form and send him off in the best condition possible.”