3 minute read

Connections of Delegator are hoping for a little more luck when he steps back up to seven furlongs for the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor felt sprinting had become the five-year-old's forte after his comeback victory in the Duke Of York Stakes, but he suffered from an unfavourable draw and a troubled passage on the July Course.

Godolphin have won the Lennox twice in the past decade with Byron and Iffraaj.

Suroor said: "Delegator was unlucky at Newmarket but he came back happy and sound. He has been working well and is ready to go again.

"Seven furlongs will be fine for him and I am hoping for a better result this time."

Dalghar takes the same passage as Delegator with Andrew Balding taking his new charge out of the sprinting division.

Balding explained: "He ran very well in the race last year for Alain de Royer-Dupre and he's been a bit unlucky with the draw this year.

"Hopefully the draw's better for him here and he can run well."

Strong Suit bids to confirm his superiority over seven furlongs in the Lennox Stakes.

Richard Hannon's colt came out on top in what was considered to be a strong renewal of the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was not disgraced over a mile after that, when he finished third in the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, beaten just a whisker by Mutual Trust and Zoffany.

Hannon has a second string to his bow in Libranno.

"Hughesie naturally sticks with Strong Suit, who, though having run a blinder in France where he was only caught close home in a three-way photo for the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, will definitely be suited by coming back to seven furlongs.

"He seems back to his old self after that breathing operation, and we are very hopeful. However, don't rule out Libranno, who ran a terrific race to finish fourth in the July Cup.

"He won the Richmond here last year and has won over seven, and he is very versatile and the track is made for him."

Charlie Hills would like to see the recent revival of his father Barry's stable rub off on Red Jazz, who has not really fired over a mile this season but is back to the trip over which he collected the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket last autumn.

Earlier in 2010, Red Jazz had finished third in the QEII, but his efforts in the Summer Mile and Lockinge this term have not been quite up to scratch.

After a very quiet period by Hills' exacting standards, he has sent out four winners since last Friday, but Red Jazz must improve from his eighth-placed finish in last year's renewal.

Charlie Hills, also the assistant trainer, said: "He handles seven furlongs very well but we feel he hasn't run up to his best form this year.

"The whole stable hasn't really been up to form but we had a very good weekend and hopefully he can continue things."