Firm ground blamed for Tobougg's narrow defeat

Godolphin expressed disappointment with Tobougg's fourth place finish behind Medicean in the Group One Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in England, and blamed the firm ground for his narrow defeat.

Tobougg, making his first start since running on well for third place behind Galileo in the Epsom Derby a month ago, finished strongly for Frankie Dettori in yesterday's big race, but the line came too soon.

"It's a disappointing result," Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor told Gulf News from Newmarket. "Obviously he did not like the ground which was a bit on the fast side despite all the rain that we had at Sandown.

"He finished strongly but the fact remains that he was beaten. Had the ground been a little bit more on the soft side I think he would have won the race, but that's horse racing, you can't have everything your way.

"But we're still disappointed considering that Tobougg was working so well in the build up to the race and he gave us all the signs that he was back to his best form as a two-year-old. You need a bit of luck, but we didn't have any of it today," he added.

Dettori held up the three-year-old Barathea colt on the outside towards the rear of the eight-horse field as his Godolphin stable companion Broche set a strong pace under Darragh O'Donohe.

Broche set off a such a clip that he went wide entering the home stretch and took Bach and Grandera with him as well as Tobougg stayed at the back with Dettori yet to make his run.

But the Italian asked Tobougg for his effort two furlongs from home and ran on well but having had too much to do, was forced to settle for fourth place in a blanket finish that saw only a length between the fast finishing quarter.

Broche, headed two furlongs from home, finished sixth.
Suroor indicated that the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 21 was likely to be Tobougg's next target.

"We'll give him time to rest from these two big races," Suroor confirmed yesterday. "But he will stay in training and we'll pick up the work closer to the middle of August.

"Despite losing Tobougg has indicated that has rediscovered his juvenile form and that's very encouraging as he seemed to have gone off the boil during the last part of April when he was third in his trial at Nad Al Sheba.

"He's a very nice and easy horse to train and we have every confidence in his ability, particularly at a mile and a quarter." Godolphin will turn their focus on the July Cup to be run at Newmarket on July 12 where they are expected to run Three Points. "He's an intended starter, but we will still have to wait and see," said Suroor.

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