Trainer Roger Varian was upbeat Sunday about the effort put in by Godolphin and Prince A A Faisal's Belardo (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) to finish fourth in Saturday's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, and the conditioner noted last year's G1 Dewhurst S. scorer would be pointed towards the summer's top mile events, including the G1 St. James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot.
“We were really pleased with his performance, although it was a little bit frustrating that he was slowly into stride for whatever reason,” Varian said. “Because of that he missed out on getting a midfield position and if he had, I think he would have been right in the mix with the first three.”
Belardo had disappointed when eighth of nine on seasonal debut in the G3 Greenham S. Apr. 18, an effort connections put down to the firm going. Varian said the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly July 12 is an option should the going at Royal Ascot not suit.
“It's difficult to make plans because of the weather, but we've all been to Royal Ascot with our umbrellas before, so who knows?” Varian said. “He can race on good ground, but we just have to be disciplined enough not to run when the ground gets firm.”
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