Oppenheimer: Roaring Lion clash would be a fitting finale for Cracksman
Anthony Oppenheimer, owner-breeder of Saturday’s Qipco Champion Stakes favourite Cracksman, on Monday welcomed the rain that fell at Ascot over the weekend and relished the prospect of his soft ground-loving star taking on stablemate Roaring Lion.
More than 40mm of rain turned the Ascot ground heavy, soft in places on the round course, raising the possibility of Roaring Lion being diverted to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on the same card and dropping from a mile and a quarter to a mile.
But Oppenheimer was hoping a true test against a fellow champion would help Cracksman erase any damage an odds-on defeat at Royal Ascot in June may have caused to his considerable reputation.
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Published on inBritish Champions Day
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