“I think he is back to his best”
Francis-Henri Graffard believes that he has Goliath right back to his best as he bids to upstage the likes of Minnie Hauk and Rebel's Romance in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.
The German-bred five-year-old failed to land a blow when sent to Hong Kong for the FWD QEII Cup back in April and while he also failed to fire in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earlier in the season, Francis-Henri Graffard's charge proved he remained a potent force in the mile and a half division when bouncing back to winning ways in the 155th Grosser Preis von Baden in September.
"I made a big mistake sending him to Hong Kong at the beginning of the year," said Graffard. "The horse was not ok mentally, so he had a very hard race there and I really struggled to get him back,"
"He was sick when he ran in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, that's why he ran so poorly that day. I couldn't be happier with him now. I think he's back to his best, mentally I think he's travelled really well, and I think he looks fantastic.
"I think in Germany he still wasn't 100% physically but he's really coming back to his best."
Running under the banner of Resolute Bloodstock & Philip Baron Von Ullmann, Goliath will break from stall two under Mickael Barzalona, should the veterinary team in Del Mar allow the son of Adlerflug to take his chance. Goliath will have to undergo a veterinary examination due to his condition stringhalt, a neuro-muscular condition which causes the hind leg to lift in an exaggerated motion – noticeable at the walk and trot.
"With him, it all depends on how he relaxes during the race. Mickael Barzalona will ride him at the races, but he galloped him last week. You just have to not touch him and let him do what he wants. Every time we tell him to do something he runs poorly but every time we let him do what he wants in his own bubble, he wins.
"At the beginning, I thought it was going to be hard bringing him over here but now I have no regrets, and I just hope they let him run."
