He is the horse with an unusual walking style where one leg is raised in an exaggerated fashion which can change from one moment to the next but a neuro condition called String Halt does nothing to hold him back in a full gallop.
Goliath, who is part-owned by American racing phenomenon John Stewart, stepped out at Sha Tin on Friday ready to make amends in the Group 1 QE II Cup (2000m) after a disappointing result in the Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) in November finishing outside of the placings in sixth.
French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and connections made the decision to take on the Sha Tin feature to begin the galloper’s new racing year on a higher note.
“He looks great but a bit light after the transport,” Graffard said after laying eyes on the five-year-old for the first time in Hong Kong.
“But he is back on his feet and his work has been very good.”
Goliath takes on Japanese performer Prognosis who finished second to Via Sistina in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) in October and stablemate and race favourite Liberty Island.
“We questioned ourselves on coming here after Japan,” he added.
“It was a long journey and his first long trip after a strong season.
“He had tough racing so he went for a spell to start this year in Hong Kong.”
The slowly run Japan Cup did not suit Goliath and Graffard is hoping for a better set-up for the gelding on Sunday.
“The idea of going to Japan was to find a bit of pace but we drew barrier one and then everything went against my horse,” he added.
“It was a big experience in Japan for my horse starting in front of the grandstand so it was all new.”He still managed to run decently and the plan was to drop him back in distance here.”If we get a bit pace, he is a very impressive horse.”
On his String Halt condition, Graffard says that other than a strong dislike for trotting, Goliath feels no ill-effects from it.
“His mechanics are good and it depends on whether (at any moment) he does it or not,”Graffard noted.
“At Ascot he was walking along and started doing it with two legs and I thought ‘oh no’.”