Roger Varian reports Shadwell homebred and G2 Summer Mile S. hero Aljamaaheer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to be on course for a shot at the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury later this month, May 16. Although the 6-year old has been given an entry in the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy S. at Haydock Saturday, the Newmarket handler still has the Group 1 mile contest as his primary target. Despite tasting defeat on his seasonal return when finishing a close second to Coulsty (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at Leicester, Varian is pleased with the son of Dubawi's progress.
“We put Aljamaaheer in at Haydock on Saturday, but the Lockinge is the agenda,” commented Varian. “He is really well and was very unlucky on his return where he was certainly the moral winner. He will come on for that. Having finished third in the race two seasons ago, we thought we would like to have another go at it. He likes fast ground so we hope it remains on the quick side.”
Varian has hinted he could step fellow Shadwell homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Intilaaq (Dynaformer) up to10 furlongs on his next outing after finishing down the field in the G1 2000 Guineas May 2. After routing his rivals in a maiden at Newbury last month, the 3-year old failed to make any impact in the mile colts' Classic, finishing 15th behind winner Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
“I don't think he really came down the hill,” said Varian. “He had a good position and traveled nicely, but it all unraveled quickly as the ground ran away from him. That combined with his inexperience was his downfall and [jockey] Dane O'Neill was not hard on him. It was a big ask for him on Saturday, but I am still confident he is a nice horse so we will take our time with him. He has come out of the race fine and we won't rush back. We have not made any firm plans with him but we could step him up to 10 furlongs next time.”
Paul Smith's 2014 G1 St Leger hero Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is reported to be taking the right steps towards making a comeback later in the campaign. The 4-year old was ruled out of the first half of the season after sustaining a leg injury.
“Kingston Hill is doing well and there is no change from what I said previously about him,” said Varian. “He is having to sit out the early part of the season, but we are looking forward to getting him back in the second half of the season.”
Kingston Hill is not the only horse from Varian's yard that is set for a spell on the sidelines with last year's impressive G1 Criterium International winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas entry Vert De Grece (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), who races for Britannia Thoroughbreds, is also ruled out for the near future.
Continued Varian, “Vert De Grece has had a little setback which means he will miss all the early season Classic races. We are not too sure when he is likely to be back.”
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