Could Coolmore unleash Gstaad on the Golden Eagle?

Could Coolmore send Europe’s second-best miler Gstaad to the Golden Eagle this year?

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Irish 2000 Guineas winner had to play second fiddle again to the brilliant Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.

The three-year-olds raced away from Group 1 winner Opera Bello and Queen Anne Stakes winner Ten Bob Tony, adding to their lustre.

It was the same order for Bow Echo and Gstaad in the 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, but it opens the door for Ballydoyle master Aidan O’Brien to bring Gstaad to Australia for a spring campaign.

Gstaad is clearly among the world’s best milers and already had an international rating of 120, the equal of Australia’s best Autumn Glow, before the Sussex Stakes, which would rate as the best race in the world this year.

His rating will have to increase after consecutive narrow defeats by 126-rated Bow Echo.

If Gstaad was to come to Australia, he would bring the strongest Group 1 profile seen from a raider. He has run at Group 1 level for his past eight starts for two wins and six seconds.

He was runner-up in Group 1s in France, Ireland and England as a two-year-old, including the Dewhurst Stakes, before his Breeders Cup success, and performed in the Classic as well as Europe’s premier mile contest.

The attraction of Australia would be the opportunity to become only the fourth horse to win Group 1 races on three continents joining Cox Plate winner State Of Rest, Ortensia and Godolphin’s Benbatl, which was runner-up to Winx in her fourth Cox Plate.

Coolmore are the biggest international player in breeding and racing and would sniff a battle with the likes of Sheza Alibi and possibly Japanese star Rodeo Drive with delight.

It would be a promoters’ dream with the North Queensland battler taking the might of Coolmore and Japan’s Northern Farm.

The Golden Eagle being promoted to Group 1 status will play a major role in any decision.

Gstaad’s program could also include the King Charles III Stakes and Champions day at Flemington, in either the 2000m Stakes or Champions Mile.

Coolmore’s star colt has very Australian influence to his blood as a  son of Starspangledbanner, being out of Exceed And Excel mare Mosa Mine, and Gstaad would secure himself a home in the Hunter Valley with any Group 1 success down under.

The decision will be discussed at the top end of Coolmore in the next month, but it is understood the lads and O’Brien are keen to come to Sydney for the spring in some form.