William Haggas has described the Lockinge S. as “a long shot” for Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) but said the talented older horse could get his campaign underway in the Listed Paradise S. at Ascot.
The German 2,000 Guineas winner has endured his share of training problems and was only seen once last season when disappointing in the G2 Joel S. when returning from over a year's absence.
However, the five-year-old is undoubtedly classy on his day, and Haggas is holding out hope that the real Maljoom can show up on the racecourse this season.
The trainer said, “He's going to the Paradise Stakes on May 1 and then we will decide if he goes for the Lockinge. I wanted to run him earlier than that so the Lockinge is probably a long shot, but I need to get his show back on the road. He's in good shape.
“He's only run once since the St James's Palace and he's very much trying to get his show back on the road.”
Haggas added, “He's a talented horse but a fragile one, but to be fair to him he's trained very well this spring.”
At Newbury on Saturday stablemate Relief Rally (Ire) kicked off her three-year-old campaign with a creditable fourth in the G3 Fred Darling S. having been beaten just once in five starts as a juvenile.
Haggas is now planning a return to six furlongs with the daughter of Kodiac (GB), with all roads leading to the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
Reflecting on Saturday's performance, Haggas said, “I'm certain she didn't stay and I said to Tom [Marquand, jockey] before the race, 'This will be the last time she runs over this trip', but I couldn't not run in it.
“Whether she is going to be a top filly, I don't know, but she is going to run six furlongs next time, maybe at the Lockinge meeting against the colts. There is a race on the all-weather at Chelmsford [on May 2] for fillies, but that feels a bit hard on her and I don't think she will go there.
“Tom said she was very weak in the last half-furlong when he thought he had them covered, so I'm not sure. She may have just got tired as well, but she won't run seven furlongs again and she's not going to be running in the French Guineas.
“We'll try to get her to Ascot if we can, with a run before.”
Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) started his season on a high note when landing the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on the opening weekend of the turf season. The G2 Duke Of York S. could await Haggas' runner and there are French contests also on the table.
“He needs a bit of cut in the ground and he's in the Duke Of York, he might go there,” the trainer said.
“The form of his race at Doncaster fell in a heap in the Abernant the other day and he could go for a Listed race at Chantilly on May 14-we might do that.”
One Haggas runner that will not be seen on a racecourse again is Sense Of Duty (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), a talented Group-winning mare whose career has been cut short by an injury.
“Regrettably, I think she has fractured her pelvis, so she will sadly be retired,” Haggas said.
“It's very frustrating for Andrew Stone who owns her, but she will make a broodmare for him. It's always horrible for a trainer when you know a horse has talent and you never get to the bottom of her.”
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