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Australian hope Criterion has finished out of the money in the Juddmonte International with Arabian Queen causing a major upset by beating Golden Horn in the feature at York.
The 50-1 shot answered everything asked of her by jockey Silvestre de Sousa to claim a shock victory in the Group One event and bring to an end the unbeaten run of the John Gosden-trained colt.
Having raced prominently throughout, Arabian Queen hit the front well over two furlongs (400m) out, just as Golden Horn, who was being closely tracked by The Grey Gatsby, began to make his move.
Although Frankie Dettori had to get serious aboard the 4-9 favourite it looked like he would wear the filly down.
But as Golden Horn ranged up to Arabian Queen, she was not to be denied, finding just enough to stick her head out in front where it mattered and score by a neck.
Both Dettori and Gosden felt Golden Horn had raced too keenly and found his turn of foot blunted by the rain-affected ground, which had led to the withdrawal of dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles.
“Golden Horn was too fresh and keen and he did too much, too early,” Gosden said.
“Frankie found it hard to settle him for the first six furlongs and he gassed himself out.
“He got in front, but I think we know now he’s definitely better on faster ground and the filly just outstayed him.
“You could see he was throwing his head about and he simply burnt too much petrol.”
Arabian Queen’s trainer David Elsworth said Arabian Queen proved her fighting qualities.
“She’s a filly of the highest class. She’s tenacious and loves to battle,” he said.
“If we hadn’t turned up today, they would be hailing the favourite as the best horse since Frankel.
“She’s certain to stay further, her dam won over a mile and five furlongs (2600m).”
Criterion finished sixth of the seven runners and will now enter quarantine ahead of his return to Australia, where he will line up in the Cox Plate.
Trainer David Hayes told Racing.com that he was frustrated with the luck in the run – but not the performance.
“Frankie’s knocked him down and we were further back than we wanted – it’s probably cost him running fourth,” Hayes reportedly told Racing.com.
“He put himself into it, it was a bit like his Ascot run really, in a better race than Ascot.
“He’s finished very close to them – The Grey Gatsby would be the favourite in the Cox Plate. We’re 30-1 here and favourite for the Cox Plate.
“He was third and ended up sixth. Instead of being ahead of those good horses he was behind them. I would have preferred them running at him (rather) than him running at them.
“It’s straight back for the Cox Plate. We needed to have a race to have an English prep going into it. I think we’ll just go that way. I think it’s a very good lead-in to the Cox Plate,” he added.
(With AAP)
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