Galileo Gold has tilt at Lockinge on his agenda

Galileo Gold will seek to give Palmer and Dettori more success this summer. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Owners Al Shaqab Racing are hoping Galileo Gold can get his four-year-old campaign off to a flying start in a race they sponsor, the Lockinge Stakes, at Newbury on May 20.

The Hugo Palmer-trained colt was one of the stars of the QIPCO British Champions Series last year, winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. He was also touched off by The Gurkha in the Qatar Sussex Stakes.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to Al Shaqab, is excited by Galileo Gold’s physical development. “He has done unbelievably well,” he said on Friday. “He’s stronger, filled out and he’ll be aimed at the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.”

The Lockinge is the second race in the mile category of this year’s Series.

Royal Ascot heroine Qemah and Zelzal, who were successful at the top level last term for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, could also give Al Shaqab an even stronger hand in the mile category of this year’s Champions Series.

“We’re absolutely delighted that Sheikh Joaan has kept all three Group One-winning milers in training,” said Herbert.

“Qemah was a brilliant winner of the Coronation Stakes and the Prix Rothschild. She has done very well over the winter.

“Zelzal won the Prix Jean Prat and he has physically done very well and to have all three coming into their four-year-old year, we’re expecting big things.

“On the three-year-old front we have Aljezeera, a daughter of Frankel trained by Luca Cumani and winner of her only start [at Doncaster in August].”