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| Staff Writer |
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Gregory, the son of Golden Horn, will be targeting top staying races when he returns next year. Although his brave run in defeat in the St Leger marked the end of his 3YO campaign, he has already established himself as a high-class performer.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Gregory showcased his stamina by winning his first three races and triumphed in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot under jockey Frankie Dettori.
A Bump In The Road: Gregory’s First Defeat Tests Dettori’s Strategy
However, his winning streak came to an end with his first defeat in the Great Voltigeur at York. Unfortunately, due to the wet conditions in South Yorkshire, Dettori chose not to ride him at Doncaster, where Gregory was unable to rectify his record on unsuitable ground. Aidan O'Brien's horse, Continuous, confirmed his form from Knavesmire on Town Moor.
Although Gregory holds an entry for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot next month, his connections have decided to wait until next year to test his long-distance abilities. Despite finishing a respectable fifth in the St Leger after being headed, his outing at Doncaster marked the end of his 2023 season.
“I think he’s going to be better on top of the ground and he still ran an admirable race,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser to Gregory’s owners, reflecting on his Leger run.
“He’s a big colt and by the far the biggest, most scopey horse in that field and he’s only going to get better from three to four.
“He still ran with credit, but we’ll put him away now and we’ll look at turning him into a Cup horse next year.
“I think he’s got a very high cruising speed and he can sustain that, so I think that is what way we will be looking at.”