Darley July Cup 2011 – Delegator geared up to take on Star Witness at Newmarket
Star Witness’s main rival in the Darley July Cup, Delegator, is all geared up to make his mark in the Group 1 race to be held on 9 July at Newmarket race course.
The son of Dansili is ready to step back up to the Group 1 level of races after he defeated Regal Parade by half a length in the Group 2 Duke of York Blue Square Stakes on 11 May 2011.
Trainer, Saeed Bin Suroor, has been delighted by the five-year olds workouts before the race and exclaimed that he is feeling good about his chances. The five-year old brown horse did not participate in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at the Royal Ascot as he
was scratched right before the race because of the ground being too soft.
Owned by Godolphin, Delegator is set to run at the Newmarket racecourse for the second time to cover the distance of six furlongs. Delegator proved to his trainer Saeed Bin Suroor that he can also sprint, when he attempted to sprint in the Group 2 Duke of
York Stakes where he fizzed past his opponents to land the Group 2 in his seasonal debut.
That was the five-year old horse’s ticket back to Group 1 races, where he will face his ultimate rival Australian sprinter, Star Witness, who has quite an impressive record on English soil.
On 14 June finished second in the King’s Stand Stakes and after that finished on the card yet again at the Ascot when he finished third in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Prior to the Ascot endeavors, Star Witness was rested in 2011 but last year in November 2010 the Australian was up against another Australian super star sprinter, Black Caviar, and finished an impressive second not too far from him.
Star Witness’s last win came back in 30 October 2010, when among 13 horses he landed the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington Australia.
Delegator will have his work cut out at the Newmarket because he will be up against an experienced horse that has seen it all both in the northern and southern hemisphere.
Delegator connections are confident, especially Saeed Bin Suroor, who believes that the five-year old brown horse has a good turn of foot and keeping that in mind he should just sit off the pace and then come through. A tactic which is commonly used but
it suits only those, who have the strength, and, desire to jump longer strides, and, come back from behind.
Before the Duke of York Blue Stakes win, the Godolphin owned Delegator was triumphant in the Dubai Duty Free Cup at Newbury back in 17 September 2007. Coming off a win Delegator and his connections would be hoping to continue the winning form at Newmarket
as well.
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