NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // You can tell when Godolphin mean business. Yesterday, at Newmarket, Simon Crisford and Saeed bin Suroor walked into a meeting with the media at the headquarters of British racing and outlined their plans for some of the stables big guns for the second half of the British summer.
Bin Suroor has had a lean spell since leaving Dubai for the British Flat season, but the stable of the Emirati trainer suddenly sprung four winners in the past 11 days.
He was in a buoyant mood ahead of Delegator's bid to seal his reputation as an up-and-coming sprinter on Saturday when the colts contests the Group 1 July Cup, sponsored by Darley, the breeding operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Delegator worked for three furlongs on the Snailwell grass gallops yesterday morning, his last blow out before he takes on the Australian challenger, Star Witness, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Elzaam in the third British leg of the Global Sprint series.
"I am happy with Delegator and so far he is doing really well - he missed Royal Ascot because the ground was too soft for him," the trainer said. "I think we will get better ground at Newmarket on Saturday - good to firm would be ideal for him. His work in the morning shows that he is more of a sprinter than a miler."
Delegator spearheads a large raiding party on Newmarket's July meeting including Campanologist in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes tomorrow, the first day of the three-day meeting, and Antara in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes on Friday.
It was the challenge of Blue Bunting in the Irish Oaks on July 17, however, that was of more interest, as was Rewilding's intended target of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot six days later.
Crisford also gave an update on Godolphin's three injured stars, Saamidd, White Moonstone and Dubai Prince, all of whom were considered Classic propositions earlier this season.
"White Moonstone is in light training, and we hope Saamidd will be back quicker," said the Dubai-based operation's racing manager. "We'll have to see if White Moonstone comes back this year, while Dubai Prince is back in training and should be back later this year. Hopefully Saamidd will be, too."