Smart move at Glorious - but will it be the Lennox or the Sussex for Foxtrot?

Trainer Bryan Smart has revealed that Foxtrot Romeo is likely to take up one of his engagements at Glorious Goodwood.

The progressive three-year-old ran a brilliant race in defeat when finishing second to Power in the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal return in May and could line up in the either the £140,000 Group Two bet365 Lennox Stakes on the opening day, Tuesday July 31, or the £300,000 Group One QIPCO Sussex Stakes a day later.

The son of Danehill Dancer was last seen finishing sixth behind Most Improved in the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19, beaten four lengths.

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Smart, who trains in Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire, said: “Foxtrot Romeo is likely to run at Glorious Goodwood in either the bet365 Lennox Stakes or the QIPCO Sussex Stakes, but I haven’t decided which race yet.

“The horse has been in marvellous form since Ascot. That is the only word I can use to describe him because he has been really really pleasing me and he looks fantastic.

“He is a very big horse and he won’t come into his own until later in the season and as a four-year-old.

“You’ve got to be pleased with his run at Ascot. I thought he ran a little bit free early on and chased quite a fast pace, which is probably why he faded in the last 100 yards.

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“I wasn’t surprised by his performance in the Irish 2,000 Guineas first time out. You don’t go to Ireland just for a run do you?

“He is a big horse and it’s got to be in the back of your mind when you are going to Goodwood - will he handle it, won’t he handle it - but for a big horse he is a very well balanced.

“He is also in the Prix Jacques Le Marois, so we have options but he is in such good order with himself and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Aljamaaheer, trained in Newmarket by Roger Varian holds an entry in the bet365 Lennox Stakes as well and he also has a choice of option at Glorious Goodwood after a third-placed finish in the Group Three Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20.

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Angus Gold, racing manager to Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “Aljamaaheer is in the bet365 Lennox Stakes and he will also be put in the Group Three RSA Thoroughbred Stakes (Friday, August 3).

“We will look at both races and then make a decision.

“The horse is in good shape. I thought he ran a very good competitive race at Royal Ascot in a big field and it was a good step up. He needs to keep going and maintaining that progress.

“It was nice to see him bounce back at Newmarket after his disappointing effort at Newbury earlier in the year.

“He won that race well, but I was then a little disappointed he wasn’t able to win at Ascot, but the winner had Classic form and even though the second has been beaten since, she is a very good filly.

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“He definitely wants fast ground and hopefully he will get that at Goodwood. I’m not sure about the track, but we think he will get a mile based on the way he finished at Ascot, so we have that option for him in the RSA Thoroughbred Stakes against the three-year-olds.”

The bet365 Lennox Stakes, run over seven furlongs on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, has attracted 13 entries.

As well as Foxtrot Romeo and Aljamaaheer, the entries include last year’s emphatic winner Strong Suit, who has yet to recapture that form this year, and he could be joined by Richard Hannon-trainedstablemate Libranno, winner of the Group Two Audi Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in 2010.

Sir Henry Cecil could be represented by top-class filly Chachamaidee, who won the Group Three Oak Tree Stakes at last year’s meeting, while Richard Fahey has entered recent Listed scorer Majestic Myles.

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The opening day of Glorious Goodwood, Tuesday, July 31, also features the £60,000 Group Three bet365 Gordon Stakes (2.35pm) over a mile and a half which often throws up clues for the St Leger. Entries for this contest have been re-opened until 11am tomorrow.

Two-year-olds get their chance to shine in the £40,000 Group Three bet365 Molecomb Stakes (3.45pm) over five furlongs, for which 17 entries were revealed today.