Saeed Suhail and Sir Michael Stoute teamed up to take Saturday's Betway Spring Mile with Ballet Concerto (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the pair could soon be back in the limelight with last year's G2 King Edward VII S. winner Across The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is being primed for a comeback in the G2 Jockey Club S.
The 4-year-old, who was last seen finishing third to Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. last August, had been an intended runner in the G1 Longines Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night but failed to make the trip owing to a minor setback.
“He was being aimed at the Sheema Classic, but spiked a temperature the day before (he was due to travel,” revealed his owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond.
“It didn't worry him and he hasn't missed anything since, so he's pretty fit. I haven't spoken in depth to Sir Michael, but I'd imagine that the Jockey Club Stakes at the Guineas meeting looks the obvious place to start off.”
Another classy winner of the 2016 turf season, Jeff Smith's homebred Stewards' Cup heroine Dancing Star (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}), is also likely to return to the track in May, with the G2 Duke of York S. having been highlighted as a potential target.
“She went from strength to strength last year and got better as the season went on. She is a lovely filly to have in the yard,” said trainer Andrew Balding.
“We will let her just come to herself, but I think the Duke of York could be an option for her. I'd hope she can play a part in the big sprint races, as the Stewards' Cup is a pretty good guide to how they will go the next year.”
From the family of the Ian Balding-trained sprint star Lochsong (GB), Dancing Star won four of her six starts last season and ended the year with a ninth-place finish behind Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the G1 32 Red Sprint Cup at Haydock.
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