Roaring Lion set for ‘huge challenge’ in USA – Gosden

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John Gosden knows it will be tough for Roaring Lion to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic but is happy with his preparation.

The three-year-old has enjoyed a superb season, with four Group One wins under his belt including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 20.

Add to that the Coral-Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes and it is clear that the colt is an animal to be feared anywhere in the world.

He will be back up to a mile and a quarter at the weekend, however, and racing on dirt for the first time at Churchill Downs.

Gosden is under no illusions as to the task he faces but feels he is in good hands, having been put through the starting stalls by Frankie Dettori on Wednesday morning.

‘Frankie knows a thing or two about American racing, so it seemed the logical thing to do,’ he said.

‘I’m happy with the way it went, as I wanted the horse to have experience of the gate before Saturday.

‘It is a huge challenge for him, having only won the QEII 11 days ago.

Frankie looked at him this morning and asked me, ‘Is that horse fit?’, such is the middle on him.

‘He was playing and squealing this morning, which is perfectly normal for him.

I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t done that.’

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