No Deauville decision over Galileo Gold

Connections of Galileo Gold are still mulling their next move with the colt after his second to The Gurkha in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last week.

The Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 14 could be the next move for the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner.

However, Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners Al Shaqab Racing, was reluctant to commit to that contest with the Hugo Palmer-trained colt when talking to At The Races on Monday evening.

"We'll see how he is but the Jacques Le Marois would certainly merit consideration," he said. "Personally, I think he's a miler. It's just the rhythm of race that he enjoys. He's quick, he's an exuberant horse.

"I think what we'll do is let the dust settle. As Hugo says, see how he comes out of the race and decide whether we want to go for the Jacques Le Marois because there's a long time between now and an autumn campaign into the QEII or something like that."

Reflecting upon Galileo Gold's latest defeat after another thrilling battle with The Gurkha, Herbert said: "Frankie rode another brilliant race. He's done absolutely nothing wrong, but it is tough to stay out there for that length of time. 

"He's a wonderful horse. He's so tough, he's so game and it's wonderful for racing to have these great competitions - doubtless we'll meet again with The Gurkha at some point.

"The Breeders' Cup is a big ask for a three-year-old, but this horse, as Hugo says, comes home from the races, devours all of his food then the next morning he's up on his hind legs wanting to go again.

"It would be the end of a very long season for him. It's for the Sheikh to decide if he wants to keep him in training, but hopefully he will stay in training and next year it will be a more sensible route to aim him into a Breeders' Cup."

Herbert was speaking 24 hours after watching Qemah win the Group One Prix Rothschild and confirmed trainer Jean Claude Rouget's hope to prepare the Coronation Stakes winner next for the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 10.

"She's an amazing filly," he said. "It's incredible to win with a filly like that, to travel and travel and travel against proper Group One-winning animals at a real good pace - and she quickened off it, which was really impressive.

"It was a huge thrill and the end of a really exciting week.

"I think the plan is to go for the Matron on Irish Champions Weekend. Jean-Claude definitely wants to do that. Let's get that out of the way. But she's very, very good and she seems to be getting better. It was fantastic to win a Coronation, but to win a Rothschild was wonderful."

Herbert also had news of last year's champion two-year-old Shalaa, absent all season through injury, but being prepared for a possible return to action in the Champions Sprint at Ascot in October.

"Shalaa is cantering away," he said. "He looks fantastic. If everything went absolutely to plan, the Champions Day sprint would be the plan and then after that we'd take a view as to whether we wanted to stay in training."