Bryan Smart ponders Alpha Delphini gameplan

Bryan Smart has not yet ruled out the possibility of giving Alpha Delphini another outing before the end of the season.

After having rattled off a hat-trick in the Beverley Bullet, the son of Captain Gerrard was narrowly beaten by Cotai Glory in a Group Three at Newbury on Saturday.

Smart said: "He was unlucky on Saturday. He is a horse that only just does enough, but we were battling back and in another two strides he might have won.

"There is a Listed race at Ascot (Rous Stakes) but he would have to carry a penalty so I don't see the point in doing that.

"I would think that might be his last race of the year, but that is not set in stone yet as I need to speak to the owners.

"He will be aimed at the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket next year and we will probably see him go in a lot of those Group-race, five-furlong sprints."