Toormore, Belardo & Dutch Connection Spearhead Lockinge Challenge

Time/Date - 15.55hrs local time/Saturday, May 14, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Newbury/UK
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m

Toormore, Belardo, Dutch Connection and Barchan make up a strong Godolphin team for the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes over the straight mile at Newbury, UK, on Saturday, May 14.

All four horses ran in the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Park on April 22 as Toormore gamely beat Dutch Connection by a neck, with Belardo making good late headway to take fourth and Barchan finishing last after taking the field along.

Toormore (Richard Hannon/James Doyle) went down by a neck to Night Of Thunder in last year's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes and subsequently gained a pair of G2 wins, including when getting the better of Dutch Connection by three quarters of a length in the seven-furlong Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Dutch Connection (Charlie Hills/William Buick) was the half-length runner-up to another Godolphin horse, Territories, in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over a mile at Chantilly, France, in July and ended last year with a staying-on fifth in the G1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland, USA, in October.

Belardo (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni), the 2014 G1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes victor, ran some excellent races in defeat last season, most notably when second over the same trip in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot in October. The four-year-old colt readily took a mile Listed race on his reappearance at Doncaster on April 2.

Barchan (Roger Varian/Jack Mitchell), a decisive winner of a Tapeta handicap over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton in December, looks set to make the pace again.

John Ferguson, Chief Executive and Racing Manager of Godolphin, commented: "Toormore nearly won the Lockinge last year and must have a good chance this year.

"Belardo will probably race a bit handier, closer to the pace, and he can go well on the ground - the softer the better for him.

"We have bought Dutch Connection and he has run well on good to soft ground. So the Lockinge is a race we are looking forward to and the great thing about running all these horses is that we will be able to plan campaigns going forward."

Richard Hannon said: "We were delighted with Toormore's win at Sandown, when he needed the run badly and had a 3lb penalty.

"He was beaten a neck in this race last year and heads to Newbury in great form.

"I think he has improved since last season and has a huge chance on Saturday."

Roger Varian remarked: "Belardo is in good form and he will appreciate the rain that Newbury has had.

"I anticipate him running a big race on Saturday. He lost nothing in defeat last time and is in good heart.

"Barchan, a front-runner, is in as well but has a lot to do on form."

Charlie Hills declared: "Dutch Connection came out of his run at Sandown in great form and did a nice piece of work last week.

"William Buick has won on Dutch Connection twice before and rode him in the 2000 Guineas last year, so he knows the horse pretty well.

"They have obviously had a lot of rain at Newbury and I am hoping for a couple of drying days. We will have a look at the ground on Saturday and go from there.

"I think the mile at Newbury will suit him, providing the ground is all right."

The field of 13 for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes also features G2 scorer Kodi Bear, who was second to Belardo in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, dual G1 runner-up Limato, last season's Irish 2,000 Guineas second Endless Drama and globetrotting mare Euro Charline.