Zaham in line for Goodwood return

Zaham could bid to give owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum his sixth victory in the last 11 years in the Select Racing UK On Sky 432 Stakes at Goodwood on Sunday.

The progressive three-year-old has won five of his eight starts and been placed in the other, graduating to victory in a Listed contest and finishing third in a Group Three at Haydock last time.

The owner’s racing manager, Angus Gold, said: “Although I haven’t spoken to Mark Johnston yet, the original plan was for Zaham to go for the Select Stakes, and I believe he is an intended runner.

“We were satisfied with his run last time at Haydock. Richard Hills felt that he hadn’t gone fast enough on the horse, and that if he could ride the race again, he would go faster and set a better pace.

“He got swamped for speed but was staying on again towards the finish and didn’t get a lot of room close home.

“Zaham is a progressive, tough horse and we’re going to try again in Group company.

“It’s a slight drop in trip from last time, when he actually looked like he might get further, but we’ll try him once more at a mile and a quarter to see if he has the speed and the class to be aimed at something like the Champion Stakes.

“He would have to win well for anyone to think of that seriously, though.”

Sheikh Hamdan’s previous winners of this Group Three contest over just under 10 furlongs were Fahris (1997), Mutamam (1998), Ekraar (2000), Nayef (2001) and Alkaadhem (2004).