Clive Cox confident of big run as Golden Horde heads to Darley July Cup

The handler landed the Group One feature with Lethal Force in 2013 and Harry Angel four years later and his 2020 representative heads to Newmarket off the back of a win in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Cox said: "I think he was a pretty good two-year-old; He won his Group Two very well after a promising run in the Coventry Stakes. He was always a very big framed horse and he has now strengthened into that frame. We were over the moon with the progress he made over the winter and he clearly showed that well-being and potential at Ascot."

The son of Lethal Force was making his seasonal reappearance at last month's showpiece, something which had concerned his trainer in the build-up.

"It was a very strange year for everybody. Going to Royal Ascot without a prep run was a mild concern because at this level, you don’t want to be lacking in any respect, but he travelled so well through the race and quickened away really nicely. It was a proper, high-class Group One and I’d like to think that run will put him even closer to perfect. He’s entitled, as any horse after their first run of the season is, to take that step forward," Cox added.

On Saturday Golden Horde faces older horses for the first time, a challenge his trainer is confident he's ready for.

"For any horse in the sprinting department, I think it’s the physical strength that sees that progress, but I think he’s ready for that. Clearly, he’s a good bodied and strong horse so I’m very much looking forward to it."

So how does he compare to Cox's two previous winners of the race?

“Harry Angel won the race as a three-year-old for us and Lethal Force won it as an older horse but I’m as excited about Golden Horde’s chances as I was about those two before," he said.

"Golden Horde is by Lethal Force who holds the course record in the race. He has similar qualities to his father, but Golden Horde has an ability to act on any ground, whereas Lethal Force was not as effective on softer ground. He (Golden Horde) won the Richmond at Goodwood last year on quick ground and won at Ascot with give, so he’s very versatile which is a very good quality.

“Harry Angel was pure class and his performance at Newmarket in the Darley July Cup when beating the likes of Caravaggio and Limato was very good. It’s an amazing race and it’s a real thrill to be going into a race like this with a huge chance.”

Golden Horde’s success at Royal Ascot was a landmark victory for Bahraini owners Almohamediya Racing and Cox was over the moon to provide them with their first Group One.

“It was a huge thrill to win a Group 1 at Royal Ascot for Sheikh Sultan and Almohamediya Racing. He has been a huge supporter of ours, he loves his horses and has a huge knowledge of the sport. Let’s hope there are many more!" Cox concluded.

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