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Glorious Goodwood 2012 |
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racing news /
Foxtrot Romeo and Aljamaaheer Have Goodwood Options
26/07/12
Trainer Bryan Smart has revealed that Foxtrot Romeo is likely to take up one of his engagements at Glorious Goodwood, which runs between Tuesday, July 31, through to Saturday, August 4 inclusive.
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The progressive three-year-old ran a brilliant race in defeat when finishing second to Power in the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal return in May and could line up in the either the £140,000 Group Two bet365 Lennox Stakes on the opening day, Tuesday July 31, or the £300,000 Group One QIPCO Sussex Stakes a day later.
The son of Danehill Dancer was last seen finishing sixth behind Most Improved in the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19, beaten four lengths.
Smart, who trains in Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire, said: “Foxtrot Romeo is likely to run at Glorious Goodwood in either the bet365 Lennox Stakes or the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, but I haven’t decided which race yet.
“The horse has been in marvellous form since Ascot. That is the only word I can use to describe him because he has been really really pleasing me and he looks fantastic.
“He is a very big horse and he won’t come into his own until later in the season and as a four-year-old.
“You’ve got to be pleased with his run at Ascot. I thought he ran a little bit free early on and chased quite a fast pace, which is probably why he faded in the last 100 yards.
“I wasn’t surprised by his performance in the Irish 2,000 Guineas first time out. You don’t go to Ireland just for a run do you?
“He is a big horse and it’s got to be in the back of your mind when you are going to Goodwood - will he handle it, won’t he handle it - but for a big horse he is a very well balanced.
“He is also in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, so we have options but he is in such good order with himself and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
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Angus Gold, racing manager to Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “Aljamaaheer is in the bet365 Lennox Stakes and he will also be put in the Group Three RSA Thoroughbred Stakes (Friday, August 3).
“We will look at both races and then make a decision.
“The horse is in good shape. I thought he ran a very good competitive race at Royal Ascot in a big field and it was a good step up. He needs to keep going and maintaining that progress.
“It was nice to see him bounce back at Newmarket after his disappointing effort at Newbury earlier in the year.
“He won that race well, but I was then a little disappointed he wasn’t able to win at Ascot, but the winner had Classic form and even though the second has been beaten since, she is a very good filly.
“He definitely wants fast ground and hopefully he will get that at Goodwood. I’m not sure about the track, but we think he will get a mile based on the way he finished at Ascot, so we have that option for him in the RSA Thoroughbred Stakes against the three-year-olds.”
The bet365 Lennox Stakes, run over seven furlongs on the first day of Glorious Goodwood, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, has attracted 13 entries.
As well as Foxtrot Romeo and Aljamaaheer, the entries include last year’s emphatic winner Strong Suit, who has yet to recapture that form this year, and he could be joined by Richard Hannon-trained stablemate Libranno, winner of the Group Two Audi Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in 2010.
Sir Henry Cecil could be represented by top-class filly Chachamaidee, who won the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes at last year’s meeting, while Richard Fahey has entered recent Listed scorer Majestic Myles.
The opening day of Glorious Goodwood, Tuesday, July 31, also features the £60,000 Group Three bet365 Gordon Stakes (2.35pm) over a mile and a half which often throws up clues for the St Leger. Entries for this contest have been re-opened until 11.00am tomorrow.
Two-year-olds get their chance to shine in the £40,000 Group Three bet365 Molecomb Stakes (3.45pm) over five furlongs, for which 17 entries were revealed today.
GOING LATEST
The going at Goodwood is currently GOOD.
Clerk of the Course Seamus Buckley reported today: “We are where we want to be with Glorious Goodwood now less than a week away and the going is good all over.
“We will begin watering tomorrow to maintain the current conditions.
“We had been forecast a shower on Friday but the chances of this arriving have died away and there is now no rain forecast until Monday and even then it is predicted to be light.”
Glorious Goodwood runs from Tuesday, July 31, through to Saturday, August 4 inclusive.
