Curragh first up for Sulamani

Last season’s triple Group One winner Sulamani is on course to make his first start of the year in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

The five-year-old is being earmarked for the mile-and-a-quarter contest on May 23 by Godolphin.

Racing manager Simon Crisford said today that the horse “looked better than ever”, and named the race as Sulamani’s likely starting point.

“We will be looking to step up to a mile and a half from the midsummer onwards, when the big races start to happen,” he said.

“He has done so well over the winter and is one of a number of very nice older horses who we will have in training this season.

“Doyen is going to be a very nice prospect over middle distances in the second half of the season and hopefully the season after as well. He ran very well to be fourth in the Arc and has a lot of ability.

“Horses like Refuse To Bend and Lateen Sails will also give us a lot to look forward to.

“Echoes In Eternity really came to herself at the end of last season and she stays in training and could start off in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket where the mile and a furlong ought to be perfect for her.

“Leadership will be campaigned in Europe over a mile and a half, while Highest could start off in the Yorkshire Cup.

“Mamool suffered a bad injury in Melbourne last year and has needed a long time to recover but he has just started re-training and – touch wood – seems to be okay so far.”