Goldie’s stable star returns after long absence

Graham Clark
June 13, 2020 6:45 pm

John Smith’s Cup winner has had tendon injury.

Jim Goldie is looking forward to seeing stable star Euchen Glen make his first start in almost two years in the Listed Betway Grand Cup Stakes at Doncaster.

The seven-year-old has not been sighted since sustaining a tendon injury when winning the John Smith’s Cup at York in July 2018.

Though Goldie reports the gelded son of Authorized to be in good shape ahead of his comeback at Doncaster, he expects him to need the outing after 701 days off.

Goldie said: “He seems in great order and hopefully he won’t be troubled by the injury. With horses that have had an injury it is one small step at a time, so he will improve for it.

“He has done everything right at home and he has won over a mile and a half at Doncaster before, so the extra two furlongs should be OK. It looks a good place to start him off.

“I gave him a stretch on Friday morning to make sure he is not too fresh. Paul Mulrennan is looking forward to getting back on him as he got injured before the John Smith’s Cup.

“We are looking forward to it, but the main thing we want to see is him have a good spin and come back in one piece.”

Having earmarked the Ebor as a target for Euchen Glen on the back of his last victory until meeting with the setback, Goldie is keen to target the prestigious one-mile-six prize at the Knavesmire again.

Goldie said: “It was great winning the John Smith’s Cup as it was a race on the bucket list, but then I felt the heat in his leg on the Sunday morning.

“You go through a rollercoaster ride with horses and unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the sport.

“The Ebor was a target after he won the John Smith’s Cup and that will be the target again I’d imagine, if he is still as good as he once was.”

Glencadam Glory is another with a lengthy absence to overcome on his stable debut for Tim Easterby having joined from John Gosden.

The gelded son of Nathaniel will be having his first start since finishing down the field in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot 2018.

Tim Palin, racing manager for owners Middleham Park Racing, said: “He was another that didn’t cost too much. He had a little problem and needed some time off, but at the moment it is so far so good.

“He is the sort of horse that could run well fresh and he doesn’t have to find much on form figures. Hopefully he will be one for something like the Ebor later on.”

Grace And Danger failed to win on five occasions in Listed company last season, but trainer Andrew Balding expects the Teofilo filly to be on the premises once again with conditions set to suit.

Balding said: “She has been Listed placed before and ran at that level all last season. She stays well and seems in good form at home.

“It is her first run of the year and she will improve for it. She tends to run well on softer ground, but I don’t think it is essential as she seems to go on anything.”