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Hugo Palmer confident over Galileo Gold Lockinge bid

Galileo Gold ridden by Frankie Dettori
Image: Galileo Gold and Frankie Dettori

Hugo Palmer feels Galileo Gold is ready to do himself justice in next month's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury having rediscovered the "magic" in his association with Frankie Dettori.

After winning the Qipco 2000 Guineas on his first outing last year, along with landing the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Newmarket handler is hoping he can capture more top-level glory in the mile showpiece on May 20.

The Al Shaqab Racing-owned son of Paco Boy stepped up his preparations for the Group One when taking part in a racecourse gallop over a mile at Newmarket on Thursday under Dettori - an exercise Palmer feels was to the benefit of both horse and jockey.

He said: "This horse is absolutely there within himself. The nice thing we have to do now is nervously tick him over into the Lockinge. All his really serious work is done.

"We ran him quickly three times at the start of last year and it was then quite a struggle to get him to Goodwood (Sussex Stakes) spot on.

"I will always have a tiny suspicion that he wasn't quite at his peak in the Sussex, but he wasn't beaten that far. I regret now taking him to France (Prix Jacques le Marois) so hot on the heels of that.

"That buzzed him up and he never calmed down for the rest of the year. I think it is fair to say that when Frankie got off him at Ascot (QEII) having two less than pleasurable times on the horse their relationship was a little bit on the rocks.

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"That was really the main purpose of Thursday's racecourse gallop, to remind Frankie what an engine this horse has and for them to get back in love again.

"The look on Frankie's face, the sort of hugging and kissing the horse afterwards - you felt the magic was back between them which is so important.

"The horse seems to be in the right place and it is so important Frankie knows it too and that they believe in each other. The piece of work he did couldn't have gone any better."

The Al Shaqab-owned colt could be joined at the Berkshire track next month by stablemate Home Of The Brave should he land back-to-back renewals of the totescoop6 EBF Stallions King Richard III Stakes at Leicester on Saturday.

He said: "He is a fast ground horse and he would have run in last year's Lockinge but for the weather going against us.

"The couple of times in his career over seven furlongs where he has won - and won so well - makes you think there is every chance he could get the mile.

"He bolted up at Leicester last year, then won the Jury Stakes (at Haydock). I would love the opportunity to run him over a mile again and if we get fast ground and if things go well for him at Leicester he will go to Newbury."

But dual Oaks runner-up Architecture is set for a spell on the sidelines after meeting with an early-season setback.

The four-year-old, who finished second in both the English and Irish Oaks last season, has had her plans put on hold after sustaining a muscle problem.

Although holding an engagement in next month's Betfred Middleton Stakes at York, Palmer has not put a timescale on how long the daughter of Zoffany will be out for.

Palmer said: "I don't quite know where we are going to start her. She has got a slight muscle problem at the moment. The irritating thing is she is trotting sound but walking a bit stiff.

"We will give her a couple of weeks and see where we are with her. The priority will be to win at least a Listed race with her as she is only the winner of a maiden.

"She won't be entered until she is ready to run. She will be back, but isn't just quite there yet."

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