No clear clues on Sakhee after workout

It was back to business for Godolphin star Sakhee on Tuesday when the reigning World Series champion had his first serious workout since suffering a shock defeat at Deauville earlier this month.

The five-year-old Bahri horse, who wowed racegoers when winning last year's Arc de Triophme in Paris, breezed over seven fourlongs with stablemates Divine Task and Atlantis Prince as the Godolphin team took to the gallops.

With Frankie Dettori in the irons Sakhee finished a length clear of his galloping partners but it was not enough to earn him a 'definite' place in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 7.

Speaking to Gulf News from Newmarket trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "It wasn't a bad piece of work, but we did not learn enough from it. He looked healthy and happy and moved well."

Sakhee is owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, but represents Godolphin, the stable created by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

"We will have to wait a couple of days before a sentence is made," Suroor said. "The final decision is up to Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Mohammed."

The Deauville race, a modest Group 3 contest, was scheduled as prep for Sakhee ahead of the Irish Champion Stakes.

Earlier this month Sheikh Hamdan disclosed that the knee trouble that cut short Sakhee's three-year-old career may have been impeded his chances at Deauville but did not rule him out of making the trip to Leopardstown.

"Sakhee is not the Sakhee of last year," he said. "He has got something anchoring him. Don't forget that two years ago he had knee problems. That is what I think may be troubling him now, but I haven't spoken to the vet."

Last season Sakhee started his campaign with victory in a Listed contest before stepping up to land the Juddmonte International Stakes at York then the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in brilliant fashion.

Interestingly Suroor, however, chose not to elaborate on what consequence the workout would have in terms of the horse's future plans.