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Hamada misses Ebor: heads to Newbury

J A McGrath

York’s traditional showpiece, the Ebor Handicap, is off the program for Godolphin’s promising stayer Hamada.

Instead, the four-year-old is set to next target the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, 18 August as a possible stepping stone to Australia.

Charlie Appleby said today: “Hamada is in the squad we are assembling for Melbourne and he is going well at home. We gave him a little break after his Newmarket win and he will be ready to run again in a couple of weeks.”

At his last start, Hamada won a Newmarket handicap off a mark of 96 by seven lengths. He has won his last four races on the trot.

“We would like to get him to the Melbourne Cup but he must first satisfy the balloting conditions, one of which is being placed in a Group race over 2300m or longer. 

“The Geoffrey Freer is a good opportunity to do that. I think it will be more suitable for him that the Ebor,” he added.