Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest set for Coolmore Turf Mile

Lake Forest will begin a two-race US campaign in the US$1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland on October 3, with the Breeders’ Cup Mile his main objective.

The William Haggas-trained gelding, winner of the 2024 Golden Eagle, is set to return to international competition after finishing second to Notable Speech in the Group 1 City of York Stakes on August 22.

Sean Graham, racing manager for co-owner Tony Bloom, confirmed the American plan on Sunday.

“The plan is to go to America and William is very happy with him,” Graham said. “He might have a race in America before the Breeders’ Cup, but the Breeders’ Cup Mile is the main objective.”

Lake Forest is due to meet Notable Speech again in the Coolmore Turf Mile, a Grade 1 contest over one mile. The race offers its winner an automatic starting position and free entry into the US$2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Graham said the gelding’s two previous trips to Australia had helped Haggas and the ownership group commit to another overseas campaign.

“The horse has been all the way to Australia twice and back and touch wood is a good traveller,” he said. “If you’re travelling a horse for the first time you never know how they will take it but he’s a proven round the world traveller and that’s a big box ticked.”