Zaham bids for Lodge glory

Zaham will step up in trip to 12 furlongs for the first time on Sunday when he goes for gold in the Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot.

Hamdan Al Maktoum’s colt has enjoyed a fruitful campaign to date, winning five times and amassing total prize money of almost £150,000.

Last seen staying on strongly over a mile and a quarter at Goodwood, the Mark Johnston-trained son of Silver Hawk could be joined in the Group Three event by stablemate Soapy Danger.

The latter returned from a long absence to go close in Newbury’s Arc Trial last week but no decision on his participation has been made at present.

Explaining the situation, Johnston said: “Zaham definitely runs and I’m seeing (racing manager) Gary Coffey from Newsells Park tomorrow to discuss Soapy Danger.

“Zaham’s probably been crying out for the step up and we were keeping him over a mile and a quarter with dreams of the Champion Stakes in mind.

“It was another good run last time, but again he was staying on once other horses had passed him and over that trip he needs a really strong pace, which he hasn’t been getting.”